Joint Operations Cell
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UK GCHQ and NCA Joint Operations Cell for dark web crime
| Joint Operations Cell | |
| Abbreviation | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Formation | |
| Predecessor | |
| Purpose | |
| Headquarters | Warrington, Cheshire |
| Parent organization | |
Joint Operations Cell (JOC) is a co-located unit of GCHQ and the National Crime Agency (NCA) established to tackle serious crime on the dark web.[1]
It opened in November 2015 in Warrington, initially focusing on online child sexual exploitation, while also addressing international sex trafficking, drugs, and weapons sales on darknet markets.[1][2]
History
The JOC was announced as a collaborative effort between GCHQ and the National Crime Agency, bringing together intelligence and law enforcement expertise to combat online crime.[1]
Function
The cell focuses on:
- Online child sexual exploitation
- International sex trafficking
- Sale of drugs and weapons on darknet markets
It combines GCHQ's signals intelligence capabilities with NCA law enforcement powers.[1]
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 GCHQ, GCHQ and NCA join forces to ensure no hiding place online for criminals GCHQ.gov.uk, 6 November 2015.
- ↑ Computer Weekly, GCHQ and NCA join forces to police dark web Computer Weekly, 9 November 2015.