TOEX Moves to Serious and Organised Crime Portfolio to Strengthen Support for Vulnerable People
We are pleased to announce that the Tackling Organised Exploitation (TOEX) Programme has moved to sit under the National Police Chiefs’ Council Serious and Organised Crime (NSOC) Portfolio.
The change in governance, which was formally agreed by the National Crime Coordination Committee on 13 January 2026, reflects where TOEX does much of its work – within Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs), which tackle serious and organised crime across the country.
By aligning TOEX with the NSOC Portfolio, the programme will be more closely connected to the national structures that oversee how police respond to organised criminality and exploitation. This move will strengthen TOEX’s reach and influence as it continues to deliver high quality intelligence, analytical and technical support to investigators in all 43 police forces.
As part of the NSOC Portfolio, the programme will have greater access to senior SOC leadership, specialist support teams and analytical resources. This will help TOEX continue to develop and share its expertise across policing, and to play a central role in shaping how forces work together to protect vulnerable people.
TOEX will also be closely involved in work to create a more joined-up approach to tackling vulnerability across the ROCU network, helping ensure that local forces can draw on the right support when they need it. In addition, TOEX technical applications and expertise will be brought to bear against these pernicious threats.
TOEX Director, Detective Chief Superintendent Kate Thacker KPM, said:
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to DCC Dave McLaren, Staff Officer Vicky Hough and colleagues across the National Intelligence Portfolio for their support and partnership over recent years. Their commitment has been invaluable to TOEX’s development.
“As we move into this next chapter, this transition strengthens our ability to champion victims, shape national policy, and drive improvements in the police response to exploitation across England and Wales.
“This is an exciting time for the TOEX Programme, and I very much look forward to working closely with NSOC portfolio colleagues in 2026 and beyond.”
NPCC SOC Portfolio Lead, DCC Wendy Gunney, said: