Organised crime: Not in UK
01 July 1994
The Director of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), Mr Pacey, told the Home Affairs Select Committee the UK does not "suffer directly from traditional organised crime groups". He was giving evidence to the Committee as part of its investigation of organised crime on 6 July. Mr Pacey went on to say that the NCIS could not "identify a British version of organised crime" and they preferred to talk about "enterprise" or "entrepreneurial" crime which was used to describe home-based criminal groups. The Organised Crime Unit (OCU) of the NCIS has 13 members drawn from the police, Customs and Excise, the Immigration Service and Special Branch.
Under questioning from members of the Committee he said that informants were "critical to good intelligence" but was concerned about them appearing as witnesses. In its written evidence the NCIS says it is particularly concerned that prosecutions are dropped rather than "compromise witnesses, sources, informants, or covert operations... consequently we do support ex-parte applications to the trial judge on matters of public interest immunity". Mr Pacey said the NCIS maintained a national register of informants. In 1993 403 informants were paid £48,000 which resulted in 301 arrests and the recovery of property worth £11 million.
The NCIS called for an extension in their powers so that they could carry out surveillance work including covertly monitoring conversations and tracking devices on suspected crime group members. It argued that "ultimately consideration will have to be given to the formation of a task force based on the anti- racketeering format under the Northern Ireland Office" - the Terrorist Financial Unit (TFU).
In an Appendix the various "threats" are listed including: Italian Mafia, Triad Groups and Biker Groups. "The threat of Jamaican criminals in the UK" contains the scintillating 'intelligence' assessment that:
"The sound systems are still a focal point for the Jamaican criminal; the words of the reggae songs are like the Rap songs and music which convey a message of anti-establishmentarianism. They are also used as a cover to distribute drugs and launder illegal monies."
Memorandum of evidence from the National Criminal Intelligence Service submitted to the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into organised crime presented on 6.7.94 and dated 30.11.93; see also story on defining organised crime in the Europe section.