The Home Secretary is set to announce a new high-tech police force focused on putting Britain’s most dangerous criminals behind bars, and will argue that officers are overstretched
Shabana Mahmood will tomorrow unveil a “British FBI” to tackle serious crime, fraud and terrorism.
The Home Secretary is set to announce a new high-tech police force focused on putting Britain’s most dangerous criminals behind bars. She will argue that officers in the 43 police forces in England and Wales are overstretched trying to close down nationwide and international networks.
By creating the new National Police Service, Ms Mahmood will say, chief constables will be able to target local crimes such as anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and shoplifting. The sweeping reforms will also see the launch of Regional Crime Hubs, to go after criminals who operate across borders and commit the most serious and complex crimes.
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Ms Mahmood said: “The current policing model was built for a different century. Some local forces lack the skills or resources they need to fight complex modern crime such as fraud, online child abuse or organised criminal gangs.
“We will create a new National Police Service – dubbed ‘the British FBI’ – deploying world class talent and state of the art technology to track down and catch dangerous criminals. In doing so, local forces will be able to spend more time fighting crime in their communities.”
The Home Office says the new nationwide bureau will bring together the powers of the National Crime Agency, Counter Terrorism Policing, Regional Organised Crime Units, police helicopters and National Road Policing.
It will share technology and intelligence and set its sights on complex crime. The force will be led by a National Police Commissioner – the country’s most senior police officer.
Former head of counter terrorism policing Neil Basu said: “A national police service will bring long-needed integration of multiple agencies, processes, systems and decision making bodies and be far more capable as one national security system dealing more effectively with major crime, organised crime and terrorism in all its forms.
“The road to such a fundamental change is clearly a long one with many obstacles but it is brilliant to see a Home Office and Home Secretary willing to get back in the driver’s seat and think long term and in the best interests of a safer UK.”
Ms Mahmood will tell MPs that policing is currently too fragmented. Currently London’s Metropolitan Police is responsible for counter-terrorism, West Yorkshire for police helicopters and Sussex for National Roads Policing.
These duties will be folded into the new organisation. It will also be responsible for making sure each police force has the best use of technology, such as facial recognition cameras.
On Monday the Home Secretary will set out her blueprint for tackling crime. The Home Office has branded it the largest reform since the police service was founded 200 years ago.