SOCA publishes forensic drug analysis for the first time

28 September 2010

Information collected as part of a nation-wide forensic project to analyse drug seizures is now available through the SOCA website.

SOCA’s Project Endorse takes its source data from all UK police and law enforcement agencies. The analysis of the material provides a detailed picture of the physical and chemical properties of Class A and amphetamine seizures made in the UK.

This information is helping investigators and intelligence experts to cross-reference details, map activity across the country and identify links between different seizures. It provides a better understanding of the substances with which drugs are adulterated, in what proportions, and at what stage of the process. It is also providing an accurate picture of drugs markets and informing UK law enforcement activity against the trade – most recently for example by focusing effort on pharmaceutical cutting agents.

Prior to the launch of Project Endorse in October 2008, initially as a pilot, drug data collection had been incomplete, adopted varying scientific standards, and was held by numerous, sometimes hard to access, sources. Endorse provided the first single collection point, standardised the science, and is comprehensive enough to enable meaningful comparison and analysis.

Since January 2010, SOCA has issued 10 assessed reports to a wide range of national and international partners and around 100 tactical intelligence reports to UK police forces and law enforcement agencies.

For more information see our Forensic Intelligence pages.

You may also be interested in our recent news story about action against cutting agent importers.