The Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) includes the investigations and intelligence gathering arms FSS. They focus on tackling food crime and maintaining consumer protection in relation to the Scottish food and drink industry. This includes
- serious and/or complex fraudulent conduct, and
- serious and/or regulatory non-compliance involving dishonesty
Conduct is considered serious in this context where it is likely to result in:
- significant risks to public safety
- substantial gain to the offender or loss to consumers
- pan-regional or transnational offending, or
- significant public concern
The Unit has a dedicated intelligence office which analyses, develops and actions information received from members of the public, food business operators and industry whistle-blowers.
The investigations team investigate instances of food crime. They may also support local authorities with enquiries into serious breaches of food safety and assist with complex and protracted investigations.
Following an in-depth risk analysis and intelligence-led process, the SFCIU Food Crime Control Strategy identified the following as key threats affecting Scotland and the focus for tackling, mitigating, and preventing crime in the food, drink, and feed supply chains:
- Meat and Meat Products - criminality in the meat and meat products supply chain impacting on authenticity and traceability
- Animal By-Products - entry of illegal product into the food and animal feed chains
- Alcohol - illicit and counterfeit alcohol in the supply chain
- Supply Chains of High Risk - fraudulent activity within supply chains assessed to be of substantial risk to Scotland