Movement of Proactive Syndicate, Operation Venice & MO8 Road Crime Team

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.034832

I note you seek access to the following information:

Since the disbandment/move of VCTF and the MO8 Roads Crime Team, please outline:

1. If VCTF has been disbanded
1A. If moved, where has Proactive Syndicate gone? Which OCU?
1B. If moved, where has Operation Venice gone? Which OCU?

2. If MO8 Road Crime Team has been disbanded
2A. If moved, where has it gone? Which OCU?

If they have been placed under a different OCU, please provide updated OCU Structures for these OCUs to feature these functions.

If they have been renamed etc. please also include this.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Since the disbandment/move of VCTF and the MO8 Roads Crime Team, please outline:
Q1 - If VCTF has been disbanded?
Q1A - If moved, where has Proactive Syndicate gone? Which OCU?

The VCTF structure has been discontinued, however, all of the VCTF posts have been redistributed to dedicated proactive policing teams.

New, larger, more flexible and resilient proactive teams, have been created on all 12 BCUs. The VCTF proactive syndicate and all investigator posts were redistributed to these new teams. The new proactive teams collaborate with other BCU teams to focus on local priorities, including violent crime. These are known a BCU Proactive Teams.

Q1B - If moved, where has Operation Venice gone? Which OCU?

The uniform posts from Operation Venice were transferred to MO7 and remain dedicated to proactive policing, maintaining the same capabilities.

Q2 - If MO8 Road Crime Team has been disbanded?
Q2A - If moved, where has it gone? Which OCU?

The MO8 Road Crime Team structure has been discontinued, however, all of the MO8 posts have been redistributed to a dedicated proactive policing team in MO7. They maintain the same capabilities.

Q3 - If they have been placed under a different OCU, please provide updated OCU Structures for these OCUs to feature these functions.

The MO8 Road Crime Team and Operation Venice, combined to become the proactive MO7 Surge Team. These officers now operate from four bases across the capital, patrolling predominately in uniform using cars and motorcycles. They harness MO8 Road Crime Team, Op Venice, and other tactics to disrupt harmful offenders, criminals using the road network, and those committing cross border crime. This team supports BCUs, in particular the Proactive Teams.

With these additional teams MO7 will now comprise 6 strands:

- Territorial Support Group
- Marine Policing Unit
- Air Support Unit
- Mounted Branch
- Dog Support Unit
- Surge Team

Q4 - If they have been renamed etc. please also include this?

Please see our response to your question 3 above.