Government Agencies Intelligence Network (GAIN) Coordinator
GAIN manages the sharing and gathering of intelligence by multiple agencies to tackle Serious and Organised Crime (SOC). The Regional GAIN Coordinator can advise and assist you on the benefits of GAIN and how to make a referral.
Services
The SWROCU GAIN Coordinator can:
- share resources to jointly participate in enforcement action
- identify and work with partner agencies to share intelligence and disruption activity and develop networks
- facilitate contact between interested partners and Regional Disruption Teams
- act as a central point of contact for forces and our relevant government agencies
- support the delivery of the SOC strategy
Who can use the services?
All police officers or police staff can submit a GAIN Referral Form (a Guidance document is available to assist you). Note, all submissions must relate to one of the following criteria:
- mapped organised crime group(s)
- high-risk individual(s)
- vulnerabilities, such as modern slavery and human trafficking, child sexual abuse and exploitation or county lines
- a tasked operation for the referring agency or organisation
Information about the GAIN network is available in the GAIN Leaflet.
GAIN in action
Trading Standards and large-scale fraud
Trading Standards submitted a referral that led to the GAIN Coordinator coordinating resources from the RDT and Avon and Somerset Police to arrest numerous individuals suspected of widespread fraud by false representation. Many elderly victims had been identified by Trading Standards who led the investigation. The day of intervention was a success due to the resources policing were able to allocate to the partner agency.
National Food Crime Unit and exploitation
The NFCU submitted a GAIN referral that led to the GAIN Coordinator coordinating resources from the RDT and Gloucestershire Constabulary. The GAIN Coordinator was able to resolve issues with information sharing between the NFCU and police that led to Gloucestershire Constabulary taking on a modern slavery and human trafficking investigation.
Intelligence sharing
While conducting an investigation into organised immigration crime, Avon and Somerset Police came across unrelated information which was shared with the GAIN Coordinator. A multi-agency meeting was held and the intelligence shared which led to other agencies becoming involved in tax evasion, benefit fraud, housing standards, and Security Industry Authority licences investigations.
DWP and large-scale fraud
The Department for Work and Pensions contacted the GAIN Coordinator to request assistance in the arrest of multiple suspects in the South West responsible for large-scale fraud exploiting the benefits system. The GAIN Coordinator was able to coordinate resources from the RDT and Devon and Cornwall Police that resulted in 26 arrests and searches being conducted.
Immigration and CSAE
Trading Standards, the Food Standards Agency and drugs
The GAIN Coordinator was contacted by an SIO in Avon and Somerset Police following the arrest of a person for multiple kilos of cocaine. There was evidence that the drugs were being stored at a food shop in Weston-super-Mare which posed some safeguarding issues. The GAIN Coordinator was able to utilise her contacts with the FSA and TS to ensure they were on scene within a few hours and assisting the SIO with closing down the premise
How to request services
Once a GAIN Referral Form has been completed, the GAIN Coordinator can review it and allocate it out to the relevant agencies.
Contact the National GAIN Hub:
- by phone – 0116 222 1541
- email – nationalgainreferrals@leics.police.uk
You can also find out more about GAIN by contacting the Gateway, within the Regional Intelligence Unit:
- 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.