‘Do once, do nationally’
As serious and organised crime evolves, so too do the skills and capabilities that law enforcement need to investigate and disrupt the most dangerous and technologically sophisticated offenders.
Often the best value and most efficient model is to develop, deploy and maintain these capabilities on a regional or national basis and to provide them to local police forces or other partners as demand requires.
Examples of the specialist skills, experience and investigative or intelligence assets we provide to partners include:
- Intelligence collection resources, both human and technical
- International network - we have a network of more than 150 international liaison officers located worldwide who are strategically located to help tackle serious and organised crime. They work with international partners and co-ordinate the UK law enforcement response overseas.
- Fugitives and international crime - the NCA’s UK International Crime Bureau exchanges information and intelligence with our UK and foreign law enforcement partners leading to operational activity against criminals globally.
- Major crime investigative support for police forces dealing with serious crime investigations including no body murder, abduction and serial sexual crimes. Many police forces will conduct relatively few investigations into major crimes and as a result it is more appropriate, and cost-effective, for the NCA to retain niche, specialist skills on a permanent basis and be the single point of contact for all law enforcement.
- Serious crime analysis - SCAS work to identify the potential emergence of serial killers and serial rapists at the earliest stage of their offending.
- Missing persons - the UK Missing Persons Unit is the domestic and international bureau for all missing persons and unidentified bodies/people cases. It is also the centre for information exchange with expert officers.
- Counterfeit currency - officers at the UK National Central Office for the Suppression of Counterfeit Currency and Protected Coins (UKNCO) develop intelligence, analyse counterfeit currency detected in the UK, provide expert evidence to the courts and also pursue operational activity.
- Civil Recovery & Tax - our powers under civil recovery and tax enable us to take away criminals’ wealth, assets and standing, significantly reducing their ability to operate. Where a criminal prosecution is not possible, these powers offer a powerful alternative by targeting proceeds of crime, significantly disrupting or preventing their criminal business to continue
- Protected persons - the UK Protected Persons Service (UKPPS) provides authorised protection to members of the public and witnesses who are judged to be at risk of serious harm. We work independently of police forces in providing protection arrangements and concentrate solely on keeping people safe and helping bring offenders to justice.
