The Bulgarian Organised Crime Threat Assessment (BOCTA) aims to introduce in Bulgaria a policy process, already successfully implemented in several EU Member States, to assess and monitor the threats from organized crime. At the core of this process is a national annual organized crime threat assessment (OCTA) report. This policy instrument is being implemented by the Center for the Study of Democracy and the Ministry of Interior, the State Agency for National Security (SANS), the Revenue Agency, and the Customs Agency. It also benefits from the participation of experts from the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Europol, the Dutch Criminal Police, the Belgian Federal Police, and Criminal Police of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The BOCTA process will allow the Bulgarian government to set tactical priorities, assess the level of threat, and direct resources in areas where they are most needed. Above all, it will improve the overall intelligence analysis process, and provide a sound basis for a strategic decision making process. The introduction of a structured process of monitoring and assessing organized crime threats will increase government transparency and accountability. It will put pressure on acting tactically and strategically against organized crime. It will significantly reduce opportunities for corruption and political protection of organized crime figures, and will set clear strategic agenda.