Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency |
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| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 2001 |
| Dissolved | 2013 |
| Superseding agency | Police Scotland |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| National agency | Scotland |
| Operations jurisdiction | Scotland |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Paisley |
| Agency executive |
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The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) was a special police force in Scotland. Its main job was to stop and break up serious organised crime groups. These are groups of criminals who work together to commit big crimes.
The agency started on April 1, 2001, as the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA). It changed its name to SCDEA in 2006. On April 1, 2013, the SCDEA became part of Police Scotland. This new police force now covers all of Scotland.
The SCDEA was officially a police force, not just an agency. Its officers had the same powers as regular police officers. The agency worked closely with other police forces in Scotland. It reported to the Scottish Government through the Scottish Police Services Authority. The Director of the SCDEA was in charge of its money and how it was run. They answered to Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament.
The SCDEA also worked with the Home Office Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). SOCA needed permission from the SCDEA or the Lord Advocate to do certain police work in Scotland.
In 2012, a new law called the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 was passed. This law created a single police service for all of Scotland. It merged the eight local police forces and the SCDEA into one big service. This new service is called Police Scotland. Its main office is at the Scottish Police College in Tulliallan, Fife.
The SCDEA was led by a Director General and a Deputy Director General. These leaders were part of a group that made important decisions for the agency.
Specialized Units of the SCDEA
The SCDEA had different teams to help prevent serious crime in Scotland. These teams focused on specific types of crime.
- Scottish Money Laundering Unit: This team worked to stop criminals from hiding money they got illegally.
- Scottish Witness Protection Unit: This unit helped protect people who gave evidence against criminals.
- e-crime Unit (Scotland): This team dealt with crimes committed using computers and the internet.
Related Organizations
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
- Serious Organised Crime Agency
- HM Revenue and Customs
- Police Intelligence
