Andy Rain / EPA
British police on surveillance in Whitehall after the terrorist attack at the British parliament in London
The British government is preparing to present a package of profound reforms to the police organization in England and Wales, including the creation of a new national service to investigate serious crime dubbed the “British FBI”.
According to the executive, cited by , the future National Police Service will focus complex investigations such as counterterrorism, fraud, online child sexual abuse, and combating gangs and organized crime.
The new structure will also add areas that are currently dispersed across several entities, bringing together under one wing the work of agencies specializing in terrorism and crime, the operation of police helicopters, road policing and regional organized crime units.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood argued that the current model, supported by 43 local forces, was “built for a different century” and no longer responds to the demands of modern crime. A national body, he explains, will allow pressure to be removed from local forces, who will be able to concentrate on everyday crimes in their areas, while specialized teams take on cases that require advanced skills and resources.
Mahmood further argued that the reform can reduce costsby centralizing purchasing and hiring, and attracting “world-class talent” to combat sophisticated, cross-cutting threats to the country.
The proposals will be formally presented to Parliament on Monday. Among other measures being studied are the reduction in the number of police forces and changes in the way officers are recruited and managed. But the creation of a national service has been welcomed by several sectors, including London’s Metropolitan Police, which currently leads counter-terrorism.
