Specialist Crime Directorate (Metropolitan Police)
The Specialist Crime Directorate is one of the main branches of the London Metropolitan Police Service. It deals with a wide range of criminality from murder to organized crime. In charge of the directorate, which has an organisational code of 'SCD', is Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur.
It encompasses several units:
- Homicide (SCD1) - Here are the 'murder squads' who investigate nearly all murders in London.
- Forensic Services (SCD3) - Provide crime scene examiners, fingerprinting and photography.
- Child Abuse (SCD5) - Child Abuse Investigation Teams deal with all aspects of this emotive crime, including related murders.
- Economic & Specialist Crime (SCD6) - The remit of this unit includes wildlife crime, antique smuggling, computer crime and fraud.
- Serious and Organised Crime (SCD7) - Responds to crimes including kidnappings and hostage taking. Commercial armed robberies are dealt with by the Flying Squad.
- Trident & Trafalgar (SCD8) - Trident investigate gun crime in the black community, including murder. Trafalgar deals with all other gun crime that does not fall under any other unit's remit.
- Covert Policing (SCD10) - This section undertakes surveillance and other discreet policing tasks.
- Intelligence (SCD11) - Provides intelligence products to the rest of the police service.