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,

F1ba

the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland,

c

the Commissioners,

d

F4each local policing body for an area in England and Wales,F5the Scottish Police Authority 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.

F68

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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); F2 ...

F3aa

consult the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland and agree with the Department what provision the plan is to make for Northern Ireland by virtue of subsection (2); and

b

consult such other persons as it considers appropriate.