Organised Crime
The threat from organised crime
The scale of the problem
The activities of organised crime groups range over a vast area, from drugs and organised immigration crime, through evasion of VAT and excise duties, financial and business fraud, to intellectual property theft and counterfeiting.
The overall threat to the UK from serious organised crime is high. Broad estimates value the losses and harms caused at least £20-40 billion a year.
Main UK threat areas
The UK Threat Assessment 2004/5 - 2005/6 describes and assesses the threats to the UK from serious organised crime, and looks at how they are likely to develop. It is produced by the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and is the authoritative statement on behalf of the government of the organised crime threats which we face.
Class A drugs trafficking
Organised immigration crime
Fraud
Money laundering
Criminal possession and use of firearms
Hi-tech crime
Sex offences against children, including online abuse
Other threats – including armed robbery, kidnap and extortion, organised vehicle crime, freight crime, cultural property crime, counterfeit currency, environmental crime
Download
UK Threat Assessment
PDF 2.97Mb
Previous threat assessments are available from the NCIS website.
Last update: 24 October 2005