LONDON: The UK will establish a national police force, dubbed the “British FBI”, to tackle the most complex and serious crimes, the government said on Saturday.
The new National Police Service (NPS) will bring the work of an array of existing agencies scattered nationwide, including the National Crime Agency (NCA) and regional organised crime units, under the same organisation.
The government says the reform will lift the burden on local police forces, which it says are diverting time and resources away from everyday policing, such as tackling shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.
“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,” said Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood.
“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,” she added.
“In doing so, local forces will be able to spend more time fighting crime in their communities.” – AFP
