NCA UPDATE

Members considered the report which provided detail on NCA’s performance in Scotland. Graeme Biggar (GBiggar) highlighted a number of key points as detailed in the paper and provided an overview of recent NCA work.

In discussion the following matters were raised:
• Members sought comment on how the NCA manages capacity. GBiggar responded that the NCA is primarily pro-active, so it can choose what to focus on by analysing crime patterns to determine what will have the biggest impact. GBiggar summarised two areas where the NCA are reactive. One is disseminating referrals from the US organisation- National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to UK forces. Demand is increasing and approximately 850 referrals are sent per week. The NCA work with tech companies to reduce harm on their systems and to help identify risks. The second area is border referrals as a greater amount of cannabis is being imported as it is cheaper to produce in other countries. The NCA are working with Border Force and airlines to help prevention.
• Members asked how the NCA increase public confidence. GBiggar responded that the NCA are increasing the amount of information they provide to the public, mainly by highlighting their successes, speaking in public about how people can stay safe, and sharing communications with school children and parents.
• Members sought comment on the efforts and trends relating to money laundering. GBiggar commented that previously proceeds of drugs was typically cash money laundering, and digital crime was crypto, however in recent years these have merged. GBiggar provided an example of an investigation and destabilisation of a Russian national level organised crime group. GBiggar advised that money laundering through crypto was increasing as was the use of fintech (financial technology).
• Referring to an earlier question at Item 5 on human trafficking, GBiggar assured Members that the NCA work with Police Scotland to investigate trafficking of women for sexual exploitation.
• Regarding the referrals from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Members asked how the referral information is used and how successful they are for stopping crime. GBiggar commented that the annual assessment report shows roughly 800,000 adults pose some degree of sexual risk to children due to the internet giving opportunity, radicalising and normalising the behaviour for certain people. GBiggar acknowledged the referrals were challenging for police forces as it placed demand on them by exposing crime which is happening. DCCSmith agreed they increased demand, but it cannot be ignored so Police Scotland grade each referral, and each one is responded to accordingly. DCCSmith advised that investing in technology and resource would help in responding to digital crime such as the online abuse of children. GBiggar highlighted that the UK Government have passed the Online Safety Act which places obligations on companies to change the way their systems work to make them safer for children. NCA have secondees within Ofcom to help support this.
• CCFarrell thanked GBiggar for the NCA’s support to Police Scotland, commenting that the partnership has helped Police Scotland to identify trends and methodologies, and assisted in establishing the cyber and fraud division. CCFarrell stressed that the current impact and reach through the partnership with NCA would not be possible if Scotland still had eight legacy forces.

Members noted the report.