The Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Humza Yousef, recently launched a new training product for public sector employees.

This Scottish Government Serious Organised Crime Task Force product features 4 training videos on the subjects of:

1. Illicit Tobacco
2. Human Trafficking
3. Money Laundering
4. Drugs Supply

These scenario based videos are designed to help Council staff 'spot the signs' associated with these crimes.

The 4 videos are available here: www.socaware.scot/enforcement

Speaking at the launch of the product, Mr Yousef said:

'People in their everyday lives will be able to spot and detect the signs of Serious Organised Crime. They could be our eyes and ears. The Police, of course, have a role to play at the forefront in the fight against Serious Organised Crime but, clearly, the public can assist the Police in this fight.

We can't fight Serious Organised Crime if we don't have that joined-up approach. It's not simply one of us that has the responsibility to fight Serious Organised Crime, but it's through our collective efforts that we'll have a greater impact. For a lot of people, they may not notice anything unusual if they don't know to look out for it. That's what these videos are there for, to help people spot the signs.'

Detective Inspector Ricky Hutton, of Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division Divert Deter Team, who helped develop the project, said

'We have a limited number of officers in Police Scotland, but if you look at the public sector, there’s potentially 500,000 employees. Not all of them will cross the threshold into people's houses, but a great number will, and the hope is that if we increase the awareness of employees, then the reporting will filter back down the line and we'll have a better idea of how Serious Organised Crime effects our communities.'