Forensic Intelligence
SOCA’s Project Endorse is a nation-wide forensic initiative to collect and analyse information from Class A and amphetamine seizures made in the UK.
Strategically, the project informs the UK Control Strategy and Programmes of Activity on drugs. Tactically, it supports law enforcement agencies investigating the national and international drugs supply.
A key element is the forensic collection plan for physical and chemical information from UK drugs seizures. The plan applies to seizures made by all UK police and law enforcement agencies and involves all major UK forensic science providers. It collects information beyond the basic evidential requirement and to a national scientific standard.
The plan:
- Applies the necessary forensic tests
- Centralises knowledge so that it can be managed appropriately
- Informs National Intelligence Requirements
Among the essential elements of the Project Endorse collection plan are:
- Identification and purity of all powdered Class A drugs and amphetamine seizures in excess of 25 grams.
- Profiling of samples of heroin from all seizures in excess of 25 grams.
- Profiling of samples of cocaine and crack from all seizures in excess of 25 grams (to March 2009).
- Profiling of samples of amphetamine from all seizures containing units of the drug in excess of 10 kilograms (in excess of 500 grams to March 2009).
- Identification of all drug and non-drug related adulterants present at concentrations over 1%, in samples of Class A drug powders and amphetamine from all seizures in excess of 25 grams.
- Identification of all non-controlled substances over 1 kilogram.
The analysis of this material provides assessed reporting on the purity levels and adulteration of heroin, cocaine and amphetamine. It also provides tactical reporting that identifies forensic links between different seizures.
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.
Extracts from current reports are available here:
Project Endorse - Amphetamine (23.5 kB)
Project Endorse - Cocaine (24.5 kB)
Project Endorse - Heroin (22.5 kB)
SOCA will publish extracts from future reporting on this website. The information will be updated on a quarterly basis.