Supplementary evidence by the Serious
Organised Crime Agency
Thank you for the opportunity to give evidence
to the Select Committee of the European Union (Sub-Committee F)
inquiry into Europol. As agreed at our evidence session on 4 June,
I am writing to provide further detail around the statement contained
in paragraph 4 of our written evidence:
"In 2007 the UK initiated 568 cases through
Europol, leading to operational results in all the major fields
of Europol's competence".
The tables annexed below provide a comprehensive
breakdown of both the subject of these cases and the partner countries
involved. You will note that 450 of the 568 cases referred to
were bi-lateral in nature, while 118 were multi-lateral.
While our traditional partners—Spain,
Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium (1-5)—all feature
as our main Europol partners, it is interesting to note that three
of the new member states—Lithuania, Poland and Czech Republic
(8-10)—also feature in the 10 bureaux with whom we do most
business. Italy and Ireland (6 & 7) complete the list of 10.
In respect of the main areas of work, I can
confirm that Drugs Trafficking remains our main area of common
interest with our Europol partners. This is followed by money
laundering which reflects the emphasis SOCA places on addressing
the issue of criminal assets. Terrorism features next and confirms
the high degree of support that the UK gives to Europol in its
two Analytical Work Files in this important area. Trafficking
in Human Beings, Fraud and Swindling, Counterfeiting currency,
Illegal Immigration, Firearms and weapons trafficking, Crimes
against the person (including Murder and Robbery) and I T enabled
crime are the other main areas of criminality that the UK Bureau
dealt with in 2007.
I trust that this additional information will
prove useful to the Committee.
William F Hughes
Director General
12 June 2008
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