Enforcing the law

The MHRA Enforcement & Intelligence Group (E & I) has responsibility for enforcing medicines legislation in England and does so in Scotland and Wales on behalf of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. The E&I Group is based at the MHRA's headquarters in London. In this section you will find information regarding the working of the Group, its responsibilities and powers as well as details of examples of prosecutions brought by the Group. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

What does the Group do?
Investigates cases and where appropriate, brings criminal prosecutions. Civil action is rarely used. Department of Health lawyers (as opposed to the Crown Prosecution Service) usually conduct prosecutions, instructing Counsel as necessary.

Intelligence officers and analysts back up the work of the investigators by providing strategic and operational advice and information in relation to on on-going investigations.

What powers does the Group have?
Officers have their own powers conferred by the Medicines Act 1968 and subordinate legislation applying the Act. These include the right to enter any premises to inspect, to take samples and to require production of any books or documents, to take copies of, or of any entry in, any such book or document for the purposes specified in sections 111 and 112 of that Act, or in subordinate legislation applying those sections. Officers are bound by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and PACE codes of practice. It is a criminal offence to obstruct an enforcement officer.

What sort of cases does the Group handle?
Any illegal activities involving medicines and their availability, manufacture, import, sale, supply and administration: from sale and supply of unlicensed products to manufacture and distribution of licensed products. Cases also can involve administration of medicines by doctors, dentists, other health service professionals, hospital and pharmacy services.

Prosecutions under Medicines legislation are usually tried in the Crown Court. Prosecutions are also brought under other legislation where appropriate. Details of examples of prosecutions brought by the Group are available in this section.  

How is the Group organised?
The Group is led by Mick Deats and divided into four Units:

  • Intelligence - Nimo Ahmed
  • Operations - Danny Lee-Frost
  • Prosecutions - James Cooke
  • Business - Joe Kyne

Structure of the Enforcement Group

Who does the Group report to?
Through the Management Board of the MHRA to the Secretary of State for Health.

Who is the Group in contact with?
The Group is in close liaison with UK Police Forces, HM Revenue & Customs, Prescription Pricing Authority, Association of Port Health Officers, Trading Standards and Environmental Health Units, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, General Medical Council, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), US Drug Enforcement Agency, Police, Customs and regulatory authorities throughout Europe and elsewhere in the world.

How can I help the Enforcement & Intelligence Group?
By reporting any information you may have regarding premises with suspicious activities related to medicines, advertisements or sales of medicines.

Contact for further information
For further information on this part of our site, please contact our Enforcement & Intelligence Group, 18-1, MHRA, Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5NQ, telephone 020 084 2330/2168, fax 020 7084 2769 or e-mail casereferrals@mhra.gsi.gov.uk. The office is staffed from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Outside these hours a voicemail system is in operation. For urgent calls outside office hours an emergency contact is available on 07710 665729.


Page last modified: 03 April 2008