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Home Office releases strategy document for organised crime
Released by the Home Office on the 28th July 2011 ‘Local to Global: Reducing the Risk from Organised Crime’ outlines the changes to be made in the lead up to the establishment of the National Crime Agency (NCA) in November 2013.
The central theme of the proposed improvements is to develop a multi-agency approach to fighting organised crime, largely by utilising developments in communication and data technology.
Released by the Home Office on the 28th July 2011 ‘Local to Global: Reducing the Risk from Organised Crime’ outlines the changes to be made in the lead up to the establishment of the National Crime Agency (NCA) in November 2013.
The central theme of the proposed improvements is to develop a multi-agency approach to fighting organised crime, largely by utilising developments in communication and data technology.
Citing The Strategic Defence and Security Review, the report highlights the importance of communications data: “as new technologies evolve, the work of the police and other agencies…is becoming even more complex”. Keeping up with new technology and how it is utilised both by criminals and the police has been outlined as a key factor: “There will be a significant detrimental impact on public safety if nothing is done to address evolving communication technology”.
Moving with the times
The new strategy places an emphasis on strengthening the UK’s defences and safeguarding against future criminal activity. To do this, says the report, law enforcement agencies must be equipped with “the right tools, technology and intelligence” in order to tackle the growing challenges presented by organised crime. Educating law enforcement agencies on the importance of the rapidly changing world of technology is high on the agenda: “We are doing much, with more that can be done, under current legislation to enable investigators to understand and respond to the technology challenge”, and UK wide training programmes are to be put in place to achieve this goal.
These improvements present a challenge however, due to legislation put in place to protect civil liberties. To overcome this, it is proposed that new legislation will be introduced to “meet the challenges of new and emerging technologies” so that security can be increased without encroaching on the rights of individuals.
Protecting the UK’s borders
As more and more overseas-based criminals become involved in organised crime in Britain, The UK Borders Agency will work alongside partner law enforcement agencies to improve security on our borders “this will be achieved by using new technologies…to deliver a more coordinated response to cross-border crime….”
Data analysis in the form of the e-Borders system will play a part in preventing individuals involved in organised crime from crossing the border. Communications data and “lawful interception capabilities” will be used (as permitted by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act) as part of the counter-terror strategy.
Crossing boundaries
The nature of organised crime means that it often crosses over from one law enforcement boundary to another. In order to tackle this over-lapping of authorities RIUs (Regional Intelligence Units) collect and analyse data from across the region and share information between different agencies. This also includes organisations outside of law enforcement such as Trading Standards, the DVLA, the Gambling Commission, the Environment Agency and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT).
In order to build on the current use of intelligence in law enforcement, RIUs will “continue to develop as an important resource, enabling intelligence collection and dissemination between forces”
Funding
The strategy document states that the Government will continue to invest in communication technology as a security tool and it will be “strengthened by investment in communications interception capability, cyber security and the use of technology to secure our borders.” Approximately £3 million in 2011/12 will be invested in the national policing of organised crime, £19 million in 2011/12 and £18 million in 2012/13 for more “specific” support for regional policing.
Plans for 2013
The NCA is planned to be up and running by November 2013 and putting all of the improvements issued in the build up to use. “The NCA will collect and analyse its own and others’ intelligence, building and using a comprehensive strategic and tactical picture…it will harness the latest technology to ensure that, subject to robust safeguards, its intelligence gathering and analytical capabilities match the threat posed by criminals who seek constantly to evade detection.”
