Crime department
The aim of the Crime department is:
‘To support communities through effectively and efficiently targeting organised crime and providing a first class service to victims and witnesses involved in serious offences’
This department is made up of five strategic elements:
Major Crime
Protecting Vulnerable People
Intelligence
Covert Intelligence
Serious and Organised Crime
More information about each of these is provided in the following pages.
Major Crime
Major Crime investigates serious category crime with teams of detectives in locations across the force area.
The Major Crime Structure also includes Coroners’ Officers, Scientific Support and the Economic Crime Unit.
Her Majesty’s Coroners are independent judicial officers appointed and paid for by local authorities and responsible for investigating violent or unnatural deaths, deaths with unknown causes, deaths in prison or in places/circumstances requiring an inquest [Sec 8 (1)Coroners Act 1988]. The Coroner has a duty to enquire by holding an inquest, which is a public hearing. In Northumbria, Coroners’ Officers are employed by the police and work with HM Coroners to provide an efficient and timely service to the public. Further information available here >>>
Scientific Support
Scientific Support provides forcewide forensic services, including scientific support officers, a DNA Unit, Fingerprint analysis and Vehicle Examiners.
Economic Crime Unit
The Economic Crime Unit provides a specialist resource to investigate public sector corruption, serious or complex fraud and computer crime. The unit is split into a number of sections:
Fraud Squad
The Fraud Squad is responsible for investigating serious and complex fraud and works closely with the Serious Fraud Office and other Government Agencies and regulatory bodies.
Cheque Collation Unit
The Cheque Collation Unit analyses and collates all stolen or fraudulent cheques from banks and financial institutions.
North East Fraud Forum
The North East Fraud Forum (NEFF) began in 2003 to promote fraud awareness and successful fraud prevention strategies in both the public and private sectors.
Computer Crime Unit
The Computer Crime Unit (CCU) examines seized digital devices and recovers any evidence or intelligence from these.