News

National crime agency launched

New agency will give a national overview of organised crime for the first time and allow crime fighting teams to work together

A new national crime agency, which will lead the UK's fight against serious and organised crime has been launched.

Policing at the border will be strengthened and the agency will make sure local police are linked to work nationally and overseas.

The new agency will give a national overview of organised crime for the first time and allow crime fighting teams to work together and get to grips with the scale and complexity of the issue.

A new intelligence centre at the heart of the agency will build a national picture of the threats, harms and risks to the UK from organised criminals and this information will be used to prioritise resources and support the work of police and law enforcement agencies on the ground.

The agency will be made up of four distinct crime teams of Organised Crime, Border Policing, Economic Crime and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre.

It will employ investigators, enforcement officers, intelligence analysts and technical, financial and operational specialists.

Trained officers will have police, customs and immigration powers and use the latest technology and tools to tackle criminal activity.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "The impact of serious and organised crime is felt across the UK in the everyday lives of people and neighbourhoods."

"By creating a powerful new body of operational crime fighters - the National Crime Agency (NCA) - we will confront the serious and organised criminality that threatens the safety and security of the UK."

Further information:
Home Office

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