Part 1The Serious Organised Crime Agency
Chapter 1SOCA: establishment and activities
Annual plans and reports
I16Annual plans
1
Before the beginning of each financial year SOCA must issue a plan setting out how SOCA intends to exercise its functions during that year (“the annual plan”).
2
The annual plan must (in particular) set out how SOCA intends to exercise its functions in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.
3
The annual plan must also include a statement of—
a
any priorities which SOCA has determined for that year,
b
any current strategic priorities determined by the Secretary of State under section 9,
c
any current performance targets established by SOCA, and
d
the financial resources that are expected to be available to SOCA for that year.
4
Any priorities within subsection (3)(a) may relate—
a
to matters to which strategic priorities determined under section 9 also relate, or
b
to other matters,
but in any event must be so framed as to be consistent with strategic priorities determined under that section.
5
The annual plan must state, in relation to each priority within subsection (3)(a) or (b), how SOCA intends to give effect to that priority.
6
SOCA must arrange for the annual plan to be published in such manner as it considers appropriate.
7
SOCA must send a copy of the annual plan to—
a
the Secretary of State,
b
the Scottish Ministers,
c
the Commissioners,
d
each police authority for an area in Great Britain, each joint police board and the Northern Ireland Policing Board,
e
the chief officer of each police force in the United Kingdom, and
f
such other persons as SOCA considers appropriate.
8
In subsection (7)(d) the reference to a police authority for an area in Great Britain does not include a constituent authority in an amalgamation scheme approved under section 19(1) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 (c. 77).
9
Before issuing its annual plan for any financial year, SOCA must—
a
consult the Scottish Ministers and agree with them what provision the plan is to make for Scotland by virtue of subsection (2); and
b
consult such other persons as it considers appropriate.