Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency

Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency - Open For Business

The creation of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency will mean that for the first time Scotland will have an organisation dedicated to tackling drug crime. It will build on the work already done by the enforcement agencies and it will help police forces to catch those who profit from human misery.

Backed by a new national advertising campaign, Deputy Justice Minister Angus MacKay, SDEA Director Jim Orr and Mr John Orr, Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police unveiled the development and plan of action for the new body:

• appointment of Deputy Director Detective Chief Superintendent Phil MacDonald and National Drugs Co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Matt Hamilton. The National Drugs Co-ordinator will work closely with the forthcoming Executive's Prevention and Effectiveness Unit;
• a national anti-drugs campaign, launched in partnership with Scottish police forces and Crimestoppers;
• a Scottish Intelligence Database will be developed to bring intelligence from forces and other enforcement agencies into a central point for analysis. It will help ensure a two way flow of intelligence with forces to help the work they and the SDEA do;
• and the recruitment of 100 additional police officers funded by the SDEA to work in all Scottish police forces;

The agency will be an important component in the Executive's co-ordinated and concerted drive to tackle drug misuse in Scotland. It will:

• enhance and expand the overall enforcement effort;
• step up action to stop drugs coming into Scotland; and
• disrupt and dismantle drug distribution networks.

Mr MacKay said:

"The SDEA opens for business today, and the Scottish Executive is backing it all the way.
"One of the central plans of our drugs strategy is cutting availability of drugs in Scotland. We have never before had an Agency solely devoted to that task. That is why we have created the SDEA, and that is why we are committing £10 million over 2 years.
"This is vital - as we said in our Drugs Action Plan, enforcement must complement what we are doing to tackle drugs in terms of education, prevention and treatment.

"The key to successful drug enforcement is to ensure that all the agencies work together in a strategic and co-ordinated way, exchanging information and using that information to make informed decisions about who, what and where to target the considerable expertise and resources.
"The SDEA will see that this happens by ensuring that systems are in place for the gathering and exchange of drugs intelligence throughout the whole of the Scottish police service so that all those working on drug enforcement has as much information as possible about the drug scene in their area - who the key players are, where and how they operate and what substances they are dealing.

"The public have a critical role to play by providing the police with any information about the illicit distribution of drugs. We can and must remove the drug menace and those who thrive on it - but we can only do it together.

Mr John Orr, acting in his capacity as Chairman of the Standing Committee of Chief Constables, said:

"Chief Constables in Scotland are delighted with the progress made by the Director in establishing the Agency as well as the extent of his consultation.
"The additional 100 officers to forces which are funded by the SDEA are welcomed and will make a positive contribution locally in combating drug misuse.
"The Scottish police service fully supports the poster campaign. Individuals and communities should not hesitate in contacting Crimestoppers if they have information about drugs criminality.

I am in no doubt that, given time, the SDEA in working with police forces and other law enforcement partners will make a real difference in effectively tackling drug related crime at all levels.

Mr Jim Orr said:

"I am pleased that the SDEA is formally up and running. The Deputy Director and National Drug Co-ordinator are now in place and working alongside the Commander of the Scottish Crime Squad. We are taking the Agency forward over our 3 main areas: intelligence, co-ordination and operations.
"Our priorities are to remove drugs from our streets and playgrounds and, critically, help to reduce drug related deaths. Our primary focus will therefore be on arrests, disruptions and seizures of assets.

Intelligence will drive our business and that is why the [http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/index2.asp] poster is so important. We need information from the public on those whom they either know or suspect to be involved in drug dealing. A phone call could save a life. Phone now."

The Crimestoppers line is: 0800 555 111

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