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<p>The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) is initially focusing on establishing the scale
and nature of food crime in the United Kingdom at a strategic level through developing
intelligence sharing relationships across the law enforcement community and with the
food industry. This will also enable the Unit to instigate investigative interventions
by law enforcement partners and local authorities to identify and disrupt specific
instances of food crime.</p><p> </p><p>At the end of this year, the Food Standards
Agency (FSA) will review progress on food crime, in line with Professor Elliott’s
recommendations following the horsemeat incident. This review will inform decision-making
about the Unit’s future form and function including the need or otherwise for the
unit to establish an in-house investigative capability.</p><p> </p><p>Intelligence
analysts within the Unit have just completed the first ever Food Crime Annual Strategic
Assessment (FCASA). The FCASA sets out the Unit’s developing understanding of food
crime and will drive its work to ensure resources are focused where the threat to
consumers and other interests is the greatest.</p><p> </p><p>The NFCU receives reports
of suspicions of food fraud from a number of sources via many different routes. The
FSA website directs users to a dedicated email address and telephone number for reporting
these suspicions. Information is also received through local authority and law enforcement
partners. Information received is analysed and, where appropriate, entered onto the
Unit's intelligence database. Between 1 January 2015 and 18 March 2016, 793 such records
were created.</p><p> </p><p>Establishment costs for the NFCU were minimal as the Unit
initially evolved from a small but similar capability within the FSA. Total running
costs to date are in the region of £579,000. Estimated costs for the forthcoming year
are £1.2 million, subject to final allocations being agreed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
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