Food Safety Crime Criminal

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has appointed Andy Morling as the first permanent head of its new food crime unit.

Morling starts in his new role this week – taking over from temporary unit head Richard Hoskin – and brings with him “extensive experience in intelligence and investigations”, said the FSA.

He has spent the majority of his career working in these areas for HM Revenue & Customs, the Serious Fraud Office, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, and latterly the National Crime Agency, where he was a senior intelligence lead.

“Andy has a strong track record in intelligence and criminal investigation, so he has the ideal experience to lead the food crime unit as it builds its intelligence-gathering network and collaborates with others to tackle criminal behaviour in the food chain,” said FSA head of consumer protection Will Creswell.

The unit was established at the end of last year in response to proposals in Professor Chris Elliot’s post-horsegate review of the integrity and assurance of food supply networks.

The unit is currently focusing on building intelligence and evidence of the risks and the nature of food fraud and food crime in the UK, said the FSA, and “exchanges intelligence and priorities at local, regional and national levels with a range of enforcement partners”.