This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24418847

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
National Crime Agency hailed by Home Secretary Theresa May National Crime Agency to 'relentlessly pursue' organised crime
(about 9 hours later)
The UK's new National Crime Agency will "relentlessly pursue organised criminals", Home Secretary Theresa May has told the BBC. A new body to tackle some of the UK's most serious crimes has been launched.
She said the body, to launch on Monday, would focus on dealing with organised crime, economic crime, border policing, child protection and cybercrime. Labelled the "British FBI", the National Crime Agency will "relentlessly pursue" organised criminals, the home secretary said.
The new agency will replace the Serious Organised Crime Agency, known as Soca. Theresa May told the BBC it would focus on organised, economic and cyber crime, border policing and child protection.
Labour called the move a "rebranding exercise", and warned the NCA was "not strong enough" for future challenges. It will absorb the Serious Organised Crime Agency, or Soca, but will not be given new funding. Labour has called the move a "rebranding exercise".
It is the third time since 1998 that an organised crime body has been set up.It is the third time since 1998 that an organised crime body has been set up.
The National Crime Squad was set up 15 years ago, only to be replaced eight years later by Soca - which is now being scrapped.The National Crime Squad was set up 15 years ago, only to be replaced eight years later by Soca - which is now being scrapped.
'Crime is falling'
The NCA will work with each of the regional police forces in the UK and similar organisations abroad.The NCA will work with each of the regional police forces in the UK and similar organisations abroad.
The agency will have 4,500 officers and aims to adopt a more visible, joined-up approach than was previously the case.The agency will have 4,500 officers and aims to adopt a more visible, joined-up approach than was previously the case.
It has significant powers to compel police forces in England and Wales to provide assistance and carry out policing operations. Its head, Keith Bristow, warned criminals to expect "continuous disruption", including the confiscation of their assets.
Mrs May told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that the new agency was "designed to be a relentless crime-fighting body which will relentlessly pursue organised criminals". "We are going to make a difference the public will see," he told the BBC, adding the "British FBI" label was "reasonable shorthand" for the new body.
The home secretary said: "Crime is falling in this country, but we can't be complacent - and particularly on organised crime. I don't think the last government put enough emphasis on this." The NCA has significant powers to compel police forces in England and Wales to provide assistance and carry out policing operations.
'Increased responsibilities' Mrs May told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday that the new agency was "designed to be a relentless crime-fighting body which will relentlessly pursue organised criminals".
"At the core of the NCA will be intelligence. It will work at local level and regionally across government, not just the police. It will work internationally as well," she said. The home secretary said: "Crime is falling in this country, but we can't be complacent. And particularly on organised crime, I don't think the last government put enough emphasis on this."
'Not strong enough'
But shadow policing minister David Hanson said the NCA "doesn't match the government's hype".But shadow policing minister David Hanson said the NCA "doesn't match the government's hype".
"Most of the NCA is just the rebranding of existing organisations such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency, but with a substantial 20% cut imposed by the Home Office on their overall budget," he said."Most of the NCA is just the rebranding of existing organisations such as the Serious Organised Crime Agency, but with a substantial 20% cut imposed by the Home Office on their overall budget," he said.
Mr Hanson added: "The new organisation is not strong enough to deal with the exponential growth of economic and online crime. It will simply absorb the existing National Cyber Crime but with fewer resources.Mr Hanson added: "The new organisation is not strong enough to deal with the exponential growth of economic and online crime. It will simply absorb the existing National Cyber Crime but with fewer resources.
"It is right to have stronger national action on organised crime with the NCA, on child exploitation and on intelligence - but the government has to support this effort and not simply use this as a rebranding exercise to hide substantial policing cuts.""It is right to have stronger national action on organised crime with the NCA, on child exploitation and on intelligence - but the government has to support this effort and not simply use this as a rebranding exercise to hide substantial policing cuts."
However, Mrs May told the BBC she was satisfied that the NCA was "going to be well-resourced".However, Mrs May told the BBC she was satisfied that the NCA was "going to be well-resourced".
British FBI? She said the government had already shown it was "possible to keep up that relentless fight against crime" with less money.
She said changes across policing had shown it was possible to fight crime while being "careful with the budgets that are available", as part of the government-wide commitment to "deal with the deficit".
And she rejected comparisons with the US, amid suggestions that an organised crime agency was essentially a British version of the FBI.
"It is a British approach to dealing with an issue that we face," she said.
Each police force in the UK has territorial responsibility for its particular area. Crimes that are carried out across more than one county or area usually involve officers from both areas.Each police force in the UK has territorial responsibility for its particular area. Crimes that are carried out across more than one county or area usually involve officers from both areas.
The new body will have a strategic role in which it will attempt to look at the bigger picture of organised crime in the UK, how it operates and how it can be disrupted.The new body will have a strategic role in which it will attempt to look at the bigger picture of organised crime in the UK, how it operates and how it can be disrupted.
The NCA will answer directly to the home secretary and will have the same powers in Scotland as it does in England and Wales.The NCA will answer directly to the home secretary and will have the same powers in Scotland as it does in England and Wales.
The situation will be different in Northern Ireland, where the agency will carry out its border and customs functions, but not other crime-fighting roles.The situation will be different in Northern Ireland, where the agency will carry out its border and customs functions, but not other crime-fighting roles.