Operations Team
The Operations Team tackles some of the most harmful or highest threat organised crime groups in the region. The team develops intelligence, carries out operations and follows investigations through to prosecution. They also support investigators in forces and law enforcement agencies, and can provide an immediate response to urgent requests.
Our services
The Operations Team can:
- provide support to, or fully adopt an operation
- deploy or support all covert tactics available in the region
- provide an urgent response to live operations
- assist Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) to achieve their operational objectives
- secure intelligence or evidence relating to ongoing investigations
- combine with existing surveillance teams in the region to expand size and capacity
Who can use our services?
- SIOs
- Other law enforcement agencies, such as other ROCUs, UK Border Force or the NCA
We are keen to offer initial advice on how our capabilities and other partners may be able to assist your investigation. Bids for capabilities then need to be taken to your Force Tasking meeting.
The team in action
Advise – Covert policing specialists
SWROCU Operations Team consists of many covert policing specialists. Holding regional portfolios in several of these areas, our team advises on specialist covert capabilities available to assist regional force investigators and hold regular regional user groups.
Assist – Surveillance and Covert Monitoring
Operations Team colleagues regularly assist force covert teams with specialist capabilities such as surveillance and covert monitoring.
They recently assisted Devon and Cornwall Police with covert surveillance tactics on an OGC trafficking significant amounts of cocaine into the county. The gang were delivering high-purity drugs from London to dealers in Exeter. They helped evidence the conspiracy and the subjects were handed lengthy jail sentences.
Adopt – Four sentenced for human trafficking and rape
An investigation into an OCG who trafficked women from eastern Europe to exploit as sex workers across the region and beyond resulted in two men and two women being convicted.
The ringleader was also found guilty at trial of raping one of the women who the group went on to exploit at their network of brothels.
Adopt – OCG sentenced to more than 120 years for major drugs conspiracy
Acting on intelligence following the takedown of EncroChat, an encrypted messaging service widely used by criminals, SWROCU investigated a Bristol and Bath-based OCG behind a major conspiracy to supply cocaine. Twelve people were convicted with sentences totalling 124 years, including 26 years for the main offender who boasted his gun had “a silencer…the whole shebang”.
How to request services
Our Gateway, within the Regional Intelligence Unit can provide more information about this service:
- by phone – 01278 647 299
- email – swrocugateway@avonandsomerset.police.uk
The Regional Intelligence Unit is available:
- Monday to Friday 08:00 – 22:00
- Weekends 08:00 – 16:30
For complex or resource-intensive requests, or requests for sensitive tactics, you will be asked to complete the BID Capability Form. Please refer to the Tasking Procedural Guidance about this process.
For urgent, out-of-hours enquires, call 01278 647 299 and the number will divert to the on-call SWROCU officer.