The government has today launched the Serious Organised
Crime Agency (SOCA), the UK’s equivalent of the FBI, to tackle
organised crime, including sophisticated computer-based fraud and
money laundering.
Prime minister Tony Blair said it was important that law
enforcement agencies should have the ability to tackle “21st
century crime with 21st century methods”.
More than 4,000 officers from the police, customs and
immigration services will be rolled into the new organisation,
which will focus on financial crimes, counterfeiting, drugs, people
smuggling and other organised crimes.
The existing National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS),
which up to now has been responsible for tackling serious
computer-based crime, is being integrated into SOCA.
SOCA, a body separate from the national police force, will have
as its chairman Stephen Lander, former head of domestic spying
organisation MI5.
In addition, Paul Evans will lead the new organisation’s
attempts to get back ill-gotten gains from criminals. Evans
previously held senior positions with foreign secret service
MI6.
The Conservative opposition said the national body would have
broad popular support among the population, but it was important
that resources to tackle crime should not be diverted from local
policing efforts.