Organised crime is increasingly targeted through 'conspiracy' charges under the Criminal Law Act 1977 and the offence of participation in an organised crime group under the Serious Crime Act 2015. The Crime and Policing Bill 2025 includes measures aimed at relentlessly disrupting serious and organised crime, including new offences of 'cuckooing' and child criminal exploitation associated with county lines. These cases often involve covert surveillance and the use of 'intercept' evidence from encrypted messaging platforms, requiring a highly technical defence response.

Defending organised crime charges requires a forensic review of the prosecution's hierarchy theory and the attribution of incriminating communications. The Serious Crime Act 2015 allows for Serious Crime Prevention Orders (SCPOs) to be imposed for up to five years, with recent changes enabling courts to keep orders in place until criminal proceedings have concluded. Technical defence strategies focus on challenging the legality of surveillance warrants and dismantling claims of an 'agreement' between parties. For younger defendants, the 2025 Bill introduces 'youth diversion orders' as a risk management tool to mitigate radicalisation and terrorist risks.