David: Created page with "{{short description|UK GCHQ and NCA Joint Operations Cell for dark web crime}} {{Infobox government agency | name = Joint Operations Cell | native_name = | formed = November..."

2026-06-17T08:20:42Z

Created page with "{{short description|UK GCHQ and NCA Joint Operations Cell for dark web crime}} {{Infobox government agency | name = Joint Operations Cell | native_name = | formed = November..."

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{{short description|UK GCHQ and NCA Joint Operations Cell for dark web crime}}

{{Infobox government agency
| name = Joint Operations Cell
| native_name =
| formed = November 2015
| preceding1 =
| dissolved =
| superseding =
| jurisdiction = [[United Kingdom]]
| headquarters = Warrington, Cheshire
| employees =
| budget =
| minister1_name =
| minister1_title =
| chief1_name =
| chief1_title =
| parent_agency = [[GCHQ]] and [[National Crime Agency]]
| child1_agency =
| website =
}}

'''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]].<ref name="GCHQAnnounce">GCHQ, [https://www.gchq.gov.uk/news/gchq-and-nca-join-forces-ensure-no-hiding-place-online-criminals GCHQ and NCA join forces to ensure no hiding place online for criminals] ''GCHQ.gov.uk'', 6 November 2015.</ref>

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.<ref name="GCHQAnnounce" /><ref name="ComputerWeekly">Computer Weekly, [https://www.computerweekly.com/news/4500257028/GCHQ-and-NCA-join-forces-to-police-dark-web GCHQ and NCA join forces to police dark web] ''Computer Weekly'', 9 November 2015.</ref>

==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.<ref name="GCHQAnnounce" />

==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.<ref name="GCHQAnnounce" />

==See also==
* [[GCHQ]]
* [[National Crime Agency]]
* [[National Cyber Security Centre (United Kingdom)]]

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Government of the United Kingdom|Joint Operations Cell]]
[[Category:GCHQ|Joint Operations Cell]]
[[Category:National Crime Agency (United Kingdom)|Joint Operations Cell]]
[[Category:Cybercrime|Joint Operations Cell]]

Joint Operations Cell - Revision history

David: Created page with "{{short description|UK GCHQ and NCA Joint Operations Cell for dark web crime}} {{Infobox government agency | name = Joint Operations Cell | native_name = | formed = November..."