Getting tough on crime

They were from the Serious and Organised Crimes Agency (SOCA). SOCA was formed in April of this year and combined the talents found in the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the National Crime Squad, some customs officers and immigration officers. They have a bit of sorting out to do as the various people all have different powers.

Did you know that a customs officer has more powers than a policeman?

As a new organisation they are keen to establish links with the industry and particularly those involved in construction.

The three priority areas for SOCA are drugs trafficking, money laundering and organised immigration crime. Vast fortunes are being made by the heads of the rackets involved and SOCA’s aim is to catch, convict and then recover the assets.

When it was first formed it was referred to as Britain's FBI. Its modus operandi is through intelligence; piecing together scraps of information to build up a picture of the criminal operations so they can be disrupted and dismantled.

Construction and property are easy vehicles for money laundering as well as for intimidation by labour gang masters and the like. We are a soft target. Lax border controls, an immigration control system in meltdown (according to the home secretary) and a massive movement of labour across Europe give a lot of scope for criminal activity in our industry. The pressures of providing labour will add to the problem: just look what is being said about the Olympics.

The institute is committed to tackling corruption in the industry both home and abroad. As part of that commitment we want to be able to give practical help to any members who are faced with corruption or criminality at work. Part of that will be to do what we can to assist organisations like SOCA. If they can disrupt some of the rackets then life improves for all of us.

SOCA is merely adding to the scrutiny our industry is under at present from the Office of Fair Training and Revenue and Customs.

Do we deserve it? Let me know.