New agency to fight organised crime

The Government has recently published its proposed Crime and Courts Bill, which will establish the National Crime Agency as a powerful body of operational crime fighters who will make sure serious criminals and organised gangs are tracked down and brought to justice.

Organised crime costs the public between £20 billion and £40 billion each year. The National Crime Agency will be responsible for tackling these crimes, which include child abuse, drug and people smuggling, illegal immigration, fraud and cyber crime.

This means that, for the first time, a single national agency will be capable of pulling together different types of information on crime and will have the authority to co-ordinate and task a national response.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the Crime and Courts Bill is expected to be granted Royal Assent by Spring 2013. The National Crime Agency will be fully operational by December 2013.