West Mercia PCC John Campion welcomes national strategy to tackle organised crime

West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed a national strategy to tackle serious organised crime.

A range of offences including child sexual exploitation, modern slavery, drugs offence and fraud have a £37billion social and economic impact, according to reports.

That has led to the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy, which has been designed to overhaul current methods and give law enforcers new capabilities to pursue criminals and prevent crime.

It is intended to leave no safe space for serious and organised criminals to operate in the UK or overseas, whether online or offline.

Commissioner John Campion said: “It’s important not to underestimate the impact that serious organised crime can have on communities, which is why it is a priority for myself, the force and a number of partner agencies.

“I welcome the work to tackle this at a local and national level.  From the investments I have made, and with support from the Home Office, we can look to address issues at the root, and gain a better understanding to tackle emerging crime types together.

At a local level, the Commissioner has invested in analysis and review work to build up a picture and take action around local issues as well as multi-agency training, focusing on county lines and vulnerability.

He has commissioned several preventative and diversionary projects, with more than 2,000 young people supported, is developing a strategy to tackle drugs misuse and associated criminality and has applied for early intervention funding to tackle serious and organised crime from a regional perspective.

For more information on the national strategy visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/serious-and-organised-crime-strategy-2018