Criminal Justice Committee SFCIU Annual Report

Prevention and enforcement are complementary approaches to tackle food crime. It is multifaceted and consistent with the Unit’s remit. Delivery is per the food crime prevention strategy plan which is monitored throughout the TTCG process and community impact assessments bespoke to ongoing investigations.

A prevention activity of note was the launch of the online FSS Food Crime Risk Profiling Tool, which offers a free risk assessment to businesses to help identify and mitigate any vulnerabilities. To promote this FSS hosted a webinar on food crime prevention attended by 230 professionals across the food sector with expert guest speakers providing key inputs on reducing risk to businesses.

SFCIU has developed links with stakeholders and partners to:

• Develop an enhanced intelligence picture
• Understand risk and vulnerabilities in the food, drink and animal feed supply chains
• Undertake joint enforcement, disruptive or preventative activity
• Undertake horizon scanning activity and identify emerging risks
• Ensure our food is safe and authentic
• Ensure responsible food businesses are enabled to thrive

Some recent and ongoing partnership activity with industry, law enforcement and regulators are also detailed below.

Industry

• SFCIU has developed a long standing relationship with Food Industry Intelligence Network (FIIN), an industry group of the largest UK food retailers, which has been beneficial for understanding food crime risks. Previous joint work has been an enabler for a necessary change in EU legislation.
• SFCIU maintains regular contact, including through established work groups, with various industry representative bodies, including Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), Safe and Local Suppliers Approval (SALSA), Red Tractor, Scottish Grocer’s Federation, Scottish Food and Drink Federation, and the Scottish Whisky Association.

Law Enforcement and Regulators

• SFCIU are active members on a number of multi-agency working groups which allows for intelligence sharing and forensic support for ongoing investigations.
• SFCIU provides the intelligence support to Scottish local authority food teams and the Animal and Plant Health Agency in Scotland.

International Partners

• SFCIU is currently a lead agency for Operation OPSON, which is a EUROPOL and INTERPOL joint ongoing operation targeting fake and substandard food and beverages. In November 2024, SFCIU hosted the annual Operation OPSON meeting in Edinburgh which attracted representative from over 40 countries, industry stakeholders, Police Scotland, HMRC and UK Government agencies. The European Commission was represented by officials from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Directorate-General for Health & Food Safety.
• A representative from OLAF attends the SFCIU Food Crime TTCG.
• SFCIU currently chairs the Global Alliance on Food Crime made up of membership from Australia, Canada, USA, UK and New Zealand. Members are working together on; coordinated operational and strategic initiatives, sharing intelligence with the aim of reducing the threat from food crime, reducing the vulnerability to industry and consumers and building domestic and global capability.

Future activities will continue be intelligence-led and processed through the SFCIU Intelligence Bureau. Horizon scanning data will continue to be assessed by SFCIU analysts with a view to meet the challenges and demands of the future by anticipating emerging issues and presenting solutions for consideration in the TTCG process.