Written question asked by Lord Marlesford (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord West of Spithead (Labour) on Monday, 8 February 2010.

Crime: Suspicious Activity Reports

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what professional qualifications are required of accredited financial investigators employed by local authorities before they are given access to the Elmer database of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency; how such investigators are security checked; and what restrictions are placed on the use that such investigators can make of their access rights.

Answer: Staff in end user organisations are required to pass the accredited financial investigators' training awarded by the National Policing Improvement Agency before they are given access to the Elmer database. All end users of Elmer are security checked according to the recruitment and security policy of their individual employer. Access to Elmer is given through SOCA's UK Financial Intelligence Unit's MoneyWeb intranet-based reporting system. It is governed by a formal partnership agreement between SOCA and the end user. Financial investigators' access rights are also governed by legislation: the Criminal Procedure Investigation Act 1996, as amended by Part 5 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and the relevant sections of the Human Rights Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 1998; and protocols set out in Home Office Circular 53/2005. SOCA reserves the right to exclude the end user from access to Elmer in the event of a confirmed breach of the partnership agreement.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 1663; 717 c80WA
Session: 2009-10
Subjects: Access Databases Local government Qualifications Organised crime Money laundering Vetting Serious Organised Crime Agency
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk