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| Metropolitan police to retain counter-terror lead until NCA is up and running | Metropolitan police to retain counter-terror lead until NCA is up and running |
| (17 days later) | |
| The government's plans to strip Scotland Yard of its lead in counter-terrorism and hand it over to a new national agency have stalled, the Guardian has learned. | The government's plans to strip Scotland Yard of its lead in counter-terrorism and hand it over to a new national agency have stalled, the Guardian has learned. |
| The plans were sufficiently advanced for the home secretary to have sought the authority to hand counter-terrorism powers to the National Crime Agency in a bill currently going through parliament. | The plans were sufficiently advanced for the home secretary to have sought the authority to hand counter-terrorism powers to the National Crime Agency in a bill currently going through parliament. |
| However sources say the plan has been shelved for at least two years amid concerns that the radical change could damage the effectiveness of efforts to fight al-Qaida's desire to inflict mass casualty attacks. | However sources say the plan has been shelved for at least two years amid concerns that the radical change could damage the effectiveness of efforts to fight al-Qaida's desire to inflict mass casualty attacks. |
| Earlier drafts of the crime and courts bill contained a clause allowing the home secretary to remove the Metropolitan police as the lead in the fight against terrorism and hand it to the NCA, which is expected to become operational next year. | Earlier drafts of the crime and courts bill contained a clause allowing the home secretary to remove the Metropolitan police as the lead in the fight against terrorism and hand it to the NCA, which is expected to become operational next year. |
| The latest version of the bill, published on Thursday, makes no mention of those powers, which were still in the proposed legislation in drafts published as late as October. A review of counter-terrorism arrangements that was expected after the London 2012 Olympics has also been postponed. | The latest version of the bill, published on Thursday, makes no mention of those powers, which were still in the proposed legislation in drafts published as late as October. A review of counter-terrorism arrangements that was expected after the London 2012 Olympics has also been postponed. |
| A senior source said the existing counter-terrorism structure had proven effective under the strain of Olympics: "As time went on, ministers were reassured by what they saw, and that the counter-terrorism network dealt with difficult issues well." | A senior source said the existing counter-terrorism structure had proven effective under the strain of Olympics: "As time went on, ministers were reassured by what they saw, and that the counter-terrorism network dealt with difficult issues well." |
| The current system gives the Met the lead in countering terrorism nationally, backed up by regional hubs operated by other forces. Scotland Yard's current head of counter-terrorism, Cressida Dick, has no formal power to direct other forces to make arrests or conduct investigations, but can make requests. | The current system gives the Met the lead in countering terrorism nationally, backed up by regional hubs operated by other forces. Scotland Yard's current head of counter-terrorism, Cressida Dick, has no formal power to direct other forces to make arrests or conduct investigations, but can make requests. |
| Supporters say the system has worked well with no turf battles between forces, while some in government believed the system was outdated and could buckle under severe strain. One key argument against the move was the difficulties any new law enforcement agency faces in operating effectively from the start. | Supporters say the system has worked well with no turf battles between forces, while some in government believed the system was outdated and could buckle under severe strain. One key argument against the move was the difficulties any new law enforcement agency faces in operating effectively from the start. |
| The NCA is a replacement for the Labour brainchild the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca), whose early days were plagued by problems and internal strife. | The NCA is a replacement for the Labour brainchild the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (Soca), whose early days were plagued by problems and internal strife. |
| A senior source added: "There is a high risk in moving counter-terrorism. It is a volatile world still and how much risk do you want to take?" | A senior source added: "There is a high risk in moving counter-terrorism. It is a volatile world still and how much risk do you want to take?" |
| The NCA's priority, once it has been established, will be border control, an operation that has been criticised recently in parliamentary reports and which the Conservative-led government has vowed to improve. There is also a concern that a new national agency could have even worse links to communities than the police have, having a detrimental effect on intelligence-gathering and reassurance in times of crisis. | The NCA's priority, once it has been established, will be border control, an operation that has been criticised recently in parliamentary reports and which the Conservative-led government has vowed to improve. There is also a concern that a new national agency could have even worse links to communities than the police have, having a detrimental effect on intelligence-gathering and reassurance in times of crisis. |
| Scotland Yard feared losing the counter-terrorism lead would be a blow to its prestige. The proposed shakeup had also delayed key senior policing appointments. In a sign of the police's growing confidence, last week Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole was made head of the north-west counter-terrorism unit. | Scotland Yard feared losing the counter-terrorism lead would be a blow to its prestige. The proposed shakeup had also delayed key senior policing appointments. In a sign of the police's growing confidence, last week Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole was made head of the north-west counter-terrorism unit. |
| The NCA, led by Keith Bristow, the former chief constable of Warwickshire, is scheduled to be operational in December 2013, later than originally intended. It will lead the fight against organised and economic crime, border policing, and child exploitation. The NCA will also include the national cybercrime unit and have a national police intelligence role with the authority to direct other police forces and law enforcement agencies. | The NCA, led by Keith Bristow, the former chief constable of Warwickshire, is scheduled to be operational in December 2013, later than originally intended. It will lead the fight against organised and economic crime, border policing, and child exploitation. The NCA will also include the national cybercrime unit and have a national police intelligence role with the authority to direct other police forces and law enforcement agencies. |
| The home secretary proposed to amend the counter-terrorism powers under clause two of earlier versions of the bill, which said: "The secretary of state may, by order, make provision about NCA counter-terrorism functions (and, in particular, may make provision conferring, removing, or otherwise modifying such functions) …" The clause was defeated in the Lords, and the government has not sought to revive it. Thus any handover of counter-terrorism powers to the NCA would need a fresh act of parliament. | The home secretary proposed to amend the counter-terrorism powers under clause two of earlier versions of the bill, which said: "The secretary of state may, by order, make provision about NCA counter-terrorism functions (and, in particular, may make provision conferring, removing, or otherwise modifying such functions) …" The clause was defeated in the Lords, and the government has not sought to revive it. Thus any handover of counter-terrorism powers to the NCA would need a fresh act of parliament. |
| A Home Office spokesperson said: "There will be no wholesale review of counter-terrorism policing structures in England and Wales until after the NCA is up and running. It is only then that it will be right to consider what, if any, role there should be for the NCA in relation to counter-terrorism." | A Home Office spokesperson said: "There will be no wholesale review of counter-terrorism policing structures in England and Wales until after the NCA is up and running. It is only then that it will be right to consider what, if any, role there should be for the NCA in relation to counter-terrorism." |
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