Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005

25 Directed arrangements: Scotland

(1) This section applies where it appears to the Scottish Ministers—

(a) that a body within subsection (2) has a special need for assistance from SOCA or SOCA has a special need for assistance from a body within that subsection,

(b) that it is expedient for such assistance to be provided by SOCA or (as the case may be) the body, and

(c) that satisfactory arrangements cannot be made, or cannot be made in time, under section 23.

(2) The bodies within this subsection are—

(a) any police force in Scotland, and

(b) the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.

(3) In a case where this section applies the Scottish Ministers may (as appropriate)—

(a) direct the chief officer of the police force to provide such constables or other assistance for the purpose of meeting the need in question as may be specified in the direction;

(b) direct the Director of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency to provide such constables or other persons, or other assistance, for the purpose of meeting the need in question as may be so specified;

(c) with the agreement of the Secretary of State, direct the Director General of SOCA to provide such members of the staff of SOCA or other assistance for the purpose of meeting the need in question as may be so specified.

(4) Subsections (6) to (10) of section 23 apply in relation to assistance provided under this section—

(a) by SOCA to a police force in Scotland or to the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency, or

(b) to SOCA by a police force in Scotland or by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency,

as they apply in relation to assistance so provided under that section.