Written evidence submitted by Durham Police and Crime Commissioners Office (SOC0047)

Introduction:

This response is submitted by Durham and Darlington Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (APCC) on behalf of PCC Joy Allen.

There are nine identified SOC threats broken down within 3 pillars –

Commodities (Drugs, Use of Firearms, Serious Organised Acquisitive Crime, County Lines)

Vulnerabilities (CSAE, Organised Immigration Crime, Modern Slavery Human Trafficking)

Prosperity (Cyber and Economic).

There is regional and local Force strategic governance and performance structure across these SOC threats.

How do different types of serious and organised crime manifest in local neighbourhoods?

Given the scale and scope of the SOC definition and the offending allied to the vulnerabilities covered (including exploitation of children) it is clear that SOC manifests itself within communities.  SOC is seen directly through an arson/damage/firearm discharge, cyber related matters, serious acquisitive crime (including rural farm, plant thefts) but it permeates society via drug use, the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults (esp. women and the use of the sex trade).  Fraud remains the biggest crime in the UK, often now facilitated by the use of cyber to enable the offence.    Organised Crime Groups are involved across the SOC threats and whilst drugs may represent the predicate offence, it involves the use of exploitation, firearms, serious violence and intimidation to maintain their control.  The control of the supply of drugs involves access and involvement across the plethora of SOC threats.  SOC threat is seen directly from those ‘traditional’ groups/families within a community, but the other areas almost become ‘normal’ life as they simply exist and are felt though not as physical with visible individuals.  Not all SOC threats are OCG linked in terms of the offending – often are but it is important to separate SOC from identified OCG’s.

What proportion of neighbourhood crimes are driven by serious and organised criminal networks?

Given the scope of SOC - the majority of acquisitive crime, drugs would fall within this definition.  Acquisitive crime to service drug use would fall under this.  Damage, arsons as part of a dispute would also fall into this category.  SOC permeates society and communities and imposes major harms on local neighbourhoods. This includes but not limited to organised theft, drug dealing, immigration crime, and rural crime.
SOC activity such as drug markets, fraud, exploitation and organised theft can manifest at neighbourhood level. The National Crime Agency (NCA) states that SOC “almost certainly disproportionately impacts some of the poorest and most vulnerable communities”. Local street‑level dealing, which often involves criminally exploited young people (e.g., county lines activity) leads to violence and intimidation linked to drug market competition, debt enforcement, and control of local areas.

We also know locally from our strategic groups around business and rural crimes, that there are organised shoplifting networks organising theft from retail premises, sometimes using coordinated teams who target stores and high‑value goods. From our rural communities we know that organised acquisitive crime occurs such as burglary sprees, catalytic converter theft, and tool/plant theft. Rural communities are reporting more and more illegal waste dumping, sometimes using stolen vehicles or fraudulent waste‑handling operations which we suspect SOC groups may also be behind, and this has become a recognised organised criminal activity affecting rural areas.

Furthermore, we know that SOC groups operating locally may be involved in harbouring or controlling individuals in exploitative living/working arrangements within neighbourhood houses and premises. These groups also facilitate the movement and exploitation of migrants who then appear in local communities. Modern slavery and sexual exploitation are also present within our local communities including labour exploitation in car washes, nail bars, and takeaways. Sexual exploitation in residential properties along with the above all affect local safety and community cohesion indicating that SOC networks significantly shape local patterns of harm.

What impact do these crime types have on people living in those communities?

The impact is significant both in the physical but importantly the psychological – these crimes impact massively on public confidence and legitimacy of police. The NCA states that SOC causes “physical and psychological impact” and erodes a community’s sense of safety, reducing trust in police and government. The Home Affairs Committee highlights growing public perception that crime is rising and that criminals act without fear of repercussions and particularly in neighbourhoods targeted by organised theft and antisocial activity. SOC brings violence, exploitation and abuse into communities and it disproportionately affects poorer and more vulnerable deprived communities by exposing them to the violence and exploitation. Overall, it creates a cycle of fear, vulnerability, and reduced trust as well as impacting people in a community through the stretching of local policing and services.

To what extent are local communities aware of the role that serious and organised crime plays in driving local crime?

We believe local communities are aware of the individuals within their locality who are involved in SOC – in relation to hidden SOC threats such as county lines and exploitation then people will not be sighted on a routine basis and will rely on information circulated.  Purchase of land as seen with Op Pencil in Durham (large swathes of land bought by OCG’s) has a significant impact on the community.

To what extent is the police response to serious and organised crime prioritised at a local level, for example by Police and Crime Commissioners?

Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) is a core element of Durham Constabulary’s Control Strategy and is reviewed on a monthly basis. These discussions primarily focus on Organised Crime Group (OCG) threats. The force has established internal and regional governance structures to monitor and assess threat and risk linked to individual SOC issues. The SOC Local Profile is a key driver in shaping activity to counter threats and prevent harm, in line with the 4P model. Both Force and local Tasking and Coordination Groups (TTCGs), as well as daily locality meetings, routinely identify and assess OCG activity.

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Durham and Darlington participates in the Gold Multi‑Agency Crime Group, which focuses on SOC and sets strategic direction for tackling these threats. Through this forum, the OPCC holds the force to account for its response. SOC is a priority for the OPCC, reflecting feedback from public consultations in which communities consistently highlight these issues as an area of concern. In her Police, Crime and Justice Plan 2025–2029, the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner outlines a clear commitment to working with regional partners to address SOC. The PCC commits to collaborating with the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) to protect individuals, communities, and organisations from serious and organised crime, and to ensure that serious and complex crimes are investigated effectively in partnership with NEROCU.  The Plan also sets out firm enforcement expectations, including actively targeting and disrupting organised criminals. This includes taking robust action to dismantle County Lines networks, with a strong emphasis on protecting vulnerable individuals who are exploited through such activity. The PCC reiterates that SOC represents a significant safeguarding threat, particularly to those least able to protect themselves from harm, exploitation, or vulnerability. To meet these commitments, the PCC will ensure that Durham Constabulary has the resources required to respond effectively to high‑risk SOC threats, including those posed by organised criminal groups.

The role of neighbourhood policing in tackling serious and organised crime

What role does neighbourhood policing currently play in preventing and tackling serious and organised crime?

This should be a fundamental role of Neighbourhood Police Teams; community intelligence, local action to target those impacting the community and reinforcing the rule of law is key.  NPT Chief Inspector’s – with other CI’s – are part of the cohort who are allocated a specific OCG.  Intelligence submission and enforcement action is recognised as part of the role but there are competing priorities.

In what ways, if any, could this be improved?

Reduction in priorities to firmly identify SOC as the overriding remit of NPT - SOC to be recognised as a matter that impacts daily on a community for the reasons articulated above.  Pushing the role of NPT in SOC – understanding how pervasive and damaging to a community SOC is.

How effective is cooperation across the serious and organised crime system, including: neighbourhood teams; local forces; regional organised crime units; national policing bodies; the UK intelligence communities; and international policing bodies?

There is a governance structure – model of Durham which is functional not geographical and raises an issue around tasking/control around SOC thematic areas – willingness to assist.  Governance structure is clear from local to Force to region.  National updates are received.

How effective is co-operation between policing and outside agencies, such as local authorities?

Has been some positive partnership working especially due to the dedicated OCGM team (been 2 posts recently) – working with statutory bodies such as Environmental Agency and Durham County Council which has been very positive.

What good practice examples exist where neighbourhood policing has played an effective role in tackling serious and organised crime?

Op Pencil/Clear Hold Build East Coast Durham. This is an example of where a local NPT is blazing a trail in tackling serious and organised crime.

What barriers, if any, exist to the effective prevention and tackling of serious and organised crime at a neighbourhood level?

Resources and abstraction from role. There is also the technology and analytical capabilities that are inconsistent across force areas and locally it has been recognise and investment directed towards this. Local partnerships also play a part in SOC prevention as they contribute significant information which helps paint the bigger picture and it is whether these are being utilised to their full potential.

To what extent do those working in neighbourhood policing have the knowledge, skills, technology and resources they need to best support the prevention and tackling of serious and organised crime?

There is a growing recognition of neighbourhood policing as a specialist capability. Whilst many officers report high demand and very limited time to proactively problem-solve, which we know will impact their ability to intervene early in SOC, therefore capacity pressures remain. Despite this the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee (2025) explicitly frames neighbourhood policing as a specialist policing capability, and introduces a new Neighbourhood Policing Pathway to ensure officers possess key competencies relevant to crime prevention and early intervention (source NPCC) The College of Policing has introduced a national neighbourhood policing training programme (NPP1) designed to equip frontline officers and PCSOs with essential skills and knowledge, including community engagement, problem‑solving, and crime prevention. NPTs are therefore strengthening their knowledge, skills and training and resources are set to grow under national commitments and sustained investment is vital in preventing and tackling serious and organised crime. NPT’s will always need specialist support, but their strength lies in being that conduit for community intelligence, prevention and engagement with the public.

The Government’s proposals for reform

What impact might the proposals in the White Paper, From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, have on the response to serious and organised crime, especially at a local level?

What further measures, if any, are needed?

The creation of a National Police Service (NPS) will reduce fragmentation by centralising SOC responsibilities (there are estimated to be over 75 organisations involved in protecting the public and tackling SOC) and the creation of the new regional hubs will hopefully strengthen strategic direction and the operational capacity for tackling SOC. This will enable local forces to focus on community harm prevention and gathering intelligence at a street level. The worry will be that whilst SOC capabilities are strengthened on that national and regional level with improved cross-border coordination, that there will be implications for SOC at local level with a loss of local responsiveness and there will be a need for robust governance structures that do not allow gaps to occur. We do not want to see local flexibility reduced as police areas become larger and we want to see community driven problem solving remain.

April 2024