United Kingdom Threat Assessment of Serious Organised Crime 2006/07

The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has published a Threat  Assessment which describes and assesses the threats posed to the UK by serious organised criminals.

There are two versions of the document, the first being a protectively marked version, produced for and circulated to UK law enforcement agencies. The second, which is not protectively marked, is intended to help increase public awareness, thereby helping individuals to protect themselves from becoming the victims of serious organised crime.

The overall threat to the UK from serious organised crime is assessed by SOCA as being high. SOCA has estimated that economic and social costs of serious organised crime, including the costs of combating it, at upwards of £20 billion a year. The report states that trafficking in Class A drugs continues to be the most visible form of serious organised crime and that the continuing fall in drug prices indicates that efforts to reduce the trade are currently failing.

Other areas reported on in the document include:

The public document can be found at http://www.soca.gov.uk/assessPublications/index.html