The Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD) is one of the main branches of the London Metropolitan Police Service. It deals with a wide range of criminality from murder to organised crime. Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur is currently the head of the directorate.
It encompasses several units:
- Homicide (SCD1) - Provides the 'murder squads' which investigate nearly all murders in London.
- Forensic Services (SCD4) - Provides 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 and 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, which is part of SCD7.
- Trident and 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.
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