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decided that in its initial stages the TFU would be constituted on
an administrative basis without any special statutory authority for
investigation or prosecution of financial offences. The TFU works
closely with the RUC Specialist Anti-Racketeering Squad C1(3) which
has primacy in the investigation of racketeering and terrorist crime
generally.
Skills of the TFU
3.
The Director TFU was appointed in September 1988 and is a
former Inland Revenue Chief Fraud Investigator with many years
experience of investigating and managing complex financial
investigations in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The
Deputy Director of the Unit is a Lawyer with extensive prosecution
experience who set up the Crown Office fraud investigation unit in
Edinburgh. The Unit has a unique blend of financial skills and
experience and its personnel includes an Accountant, Tax, VAT,
Customs and Social Security investigators, Treasury and National
Audit Office officials and research and analysis specialists
previously employed in the Security Services, Metropolitan Police
Criminal Intelligence Branch and Army Intelligence. The Royal
Ulster Constabulary Special Branch have appointed a Chief Inspector
to act as a full time Liaison Officer to the Unit.
TFU aim and objectives
4. The Unit's principal aim is to 'work towards the elimination of
all activities supporting terrorist finance'. Its objectives
include: researching and analysing the methods and sources of
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