‘British FBI’ planned as government centralises terror and fraud Policing
National Police Service will merge key agencies in overhaul of policing system
Counter-terror, fraud and criminal gang investigations are set to be taken over by a new national police force dubbed the "British FBI" under major policing reforms.
The National Police Service (NPS) will be created to crack down on serious and complex crimes, bringing the work of existing agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA) and regional organised crime units under the same organisation.
City of London Police are currently responsible nationally for fraud, while Counter Terror Policing (CTP), led by the Metropolitan Police, the National Police Air Service run by West Yorkshire Police and the National Roads Policing will all be instead merged into the new NPS.
It is hoped to lift the burden on local police forces, who are believed to be diverting time and resources away from everyday policing against shoplifting and antisocial behaviour to deal with national policing issues.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the move as she is set to reveal reforms for policing in a White Paper on Monday.
"The current policing model was built for a different century," she said.
"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 NPS will be headed up by a National Police Commissioner who will become the most senior police chief in the country.
Once up and running it will set standards and training for policing and buy new technology such as facial recognition on behalf of all police forces.
The service would share technology, intelligence and resources across borders and be created in stages working alongside the NCA, CTP and regional organised crime units for the transition.
It comes as officers in the City of London said they remained confident that they would keep their national responsibility for fraud under restructuring plans ahead of the announcement.
In a statement to Press Association, chair of the City of London Police Authority, Tijs Broeke, and City of London Police Commissioner and National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Cyber and Economic Crime, Pete O'Doherty, said they looked forward to "working constructively and collaborating with Government on its reform ambitions".
They added: "While we have not yet seen the White Paper in full, we will consider it carefully when published and support reforms that aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of policing for victims."
But backing the plans, former head of Counter Terrorism Policing, Neil Basu, said it will be "far more capable as one national security system dealing more effectively with major crime, organised crime and terrorism in all its forms".
Head of the Metropolitan Police Sir Mark Rowley has previously supported the idea of the national responsibility for counter-terrorism being removed from his force.
And Graeme Biggar, director general of the National Crime Agency, which would be merged into the new organisation, is also supporting the proposals.
"I am proud of the brilliant work NCA officers do to protect the public from serious and organised crime and new and emerging threats.
"But the overall policing system is out of date. Crime has changed, technology has changed, and how we respond needs to change.
"As part of reform, we need a single, stronger national law enforcement body, building on the NCA and others, to more coherently tackle organised crime, fraud, terrorism and the new international and online threats we face.
"These are threats that affect us all locally, but need a national and international response.
"Such a body would enable us to improve how we protect the public, our communities and the country."
Ms Mahmood is already expected to slash the overall number of forces from their current level of 43 under the White Paper.
The Home Secretary has previously said that the structure of 43 forces in England and Wales is "irrational", and police chiefs such as Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley have already called for radical reform of the set-up, backing a system with fewer, but larger, forces.
But reacting to the move on Friday the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said the creation of regional forces would be expensive, time-consuming and risks separating police forces from their communities.
Ministers have already announced plans to scrap police and crime commissioners in 2028 to save at least £100 million and help fund neighbourhood policing.
Instead, mayors and council leaders will take up the responsibilities of policing arrangements.