Information about the former Venice Robbery Team - Venice Tasking Team
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.038541
I note you seek access to the following information:
I'm aware Venice was removed and is now new functions under MO7. I was meant to say can you answer the questions for when Op Venice was under the Violent Crime Taskforce.
I am writing to you today in order to get an insight into Operation Venice, I have been conducting research into this highly specialist operation for the last couple months and have established some things which I need confirming and/or explaining please.
Q1) Can you provide a list of all team (please also provide their official name for the team) who were working under Operation Venice as of 2024?
Q2) Can you confirm if the "Venice Robbery Team" was a team under Op Venice?
Q2.1) Can you confirm if the "Venice Tasking Team" was the Scorpion TPAC Team?
Q3) As of 2024 can you provide a breakdown of ranks in number format? (example: 1 Ch/Insp 3 Inspectors etc)
Q4) How many Scorpion TPAC Teams were operating as of 2024?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1) Can you provide a list of all team (please also provide their official name for the team) who were working under Operation Venice as of 2024?
It should be noted that Venice has not moved to MO7. The small number of officers (13) that used to be classed as Interceptors (Scorpions is an old term we stopped using in early 2023) have transferred to MO7.
Whilst they still have the ability to instigate tactical contact, they are not solely focussed on tackling moped enabled street crime as they were before.
All other Venice related teams ceased to exist in the second week of January 2024, so therefore, the MPS is unable to provide the specific detail requested for 2024.
During 2023, there were only 3 teams under Operation Venice:
1) Venice tasking team - a team of 1 PS and 8 PCs used to support the investigation teams. They would conduct our warrants, arrest enquiries, and often patrol in plain clothes - many of them had the same skill set as the Interceptors.
2) Venice Investigation team - a team of investigators who worked on linked series robbery and theft snatch investigations pan London. Made up of 1 DI, 2 DS and 18 PC/DC
3) Venice Interceptors - a team of 1 PS and 12 PCS who would patrol in marked vehicles in robbery hotspots with the ability to instigate tactical contact.
The Interceptors and tasking team shared the same DI. There was one DCI that oversaw the whole of Operation Venice.
Q2 - Can you confirm if the "Venice Robbery Team" was a team under Op Venice?
In relation to question 2, the MPS have never referred to any of the teams as the Venice robbery team.
Q2.1 - Can you confirm if the "Venice Tasking Team" was the Scorpion TPAC Team?
No, the Venice Tasking Team was not the Scorpions Team.
Q4 - How many Scorpion TPAC Teams were operating as of 2024?
There were a total of 13 officers within the Scorpions Team.