To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug liaison officers transferred from HM Revenue and Customs to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) on 2 April 2006; how many of these are in post; and how many drug liaison officer posts have been converted into general crime posts at SOCA. (117040)

On 1 April 2006, 59 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) overseas officers with functions including those of a drugs liaison officer transferred to Serious Organises Crime Agency (SOCA). Of those, 50 remain in post to-day.

In line with the statutory responsibilities of SOCA to reduce harm from all forms of organised crime, not just from the threat of drugs trafficking, all of these posts have been converted to SOCA liaison officer posts which are general crime posts.