Skip to content
Quick exit
  • Cymraeg
  • Reporting SARs
Leading the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime
  • Who we are
    • Our mission
    • Our people
    • Our leadership
    • Governance and transparency
    • Inclusion, diversity and equality
    • Publications
  • What we do
    • What we investigate
    • Border vulnerabilities
    • Bribery, corruption and sanctions evasion
    • Cyber crime
    • Child sexual abuse and exploitation
    • Drug trafficking
    • Illegal firearms
    • Fraud
    • Kidnap and extortion
    • Modern slavery and human trafficking
    • Money laundering and illicit finance
    • Organised immigration crime
    • Operation Stovewood: Rotherham child sexual abuse investigation
    • How we work
    • Intelligence: enhancing the picture of serious organised crime affecting the UK
    • Investigating and disrupting the highest risk serious and organised criminals
    • Providing specialist capabilities for law enforcement
    • Supporting victims and survivors
  • News
    • All news
  • Careers
    • How to join the NCA
    • Applying and onboarding
    • Current vacancies
    • A day in the life
    • Benefits and support
  • Most Wanted
  • Contact us
    • Verify an NCA Officer
    • Complaints
  • Home >
  • What we do >
  • How we work >
  • Providing specialist capabilities for law enforcement >
  • International network

Share this page:

Share this page:

International network

Most serious and organised crime affecting the UK has an international dimension. Whether in the form of firearms trafficked internationally via the dark web, international child sexual abuse and exploitation, or cyber attacks orchestrated from overseas – serious and organised crime does not respect borders.

document View text version of image (11 KB)

NCA international liaison officers

To combat international serious and organised crime effectively we deploy NCA International Liaison Officers (ILOs) in strategic locations around the world where their expertise can help disrupt serious criminality before it impacts on the UK.

Our network of ILOs deployed overseas, supported by UK based officers, covers more than 130 countries around the world. 

Collectively they fulfil a vital role, extending our global reach and influence by working alongside our international law enforcement partners to tackle serious and organised crime in key locations that provide the best opportunity to disrupt the threat to the UK.

The ILOs work closely with the police, border, customs, security agencies and judicial authorities in the countries to which they are deployed, directing the development of intelligence, ensuring information is shared appropriately and coordinating law enforcement action that supports UK investigations. 

The support that the ILOs can provide varies depending on their location and the capabilities of host partners.

In many countries ILOs help to build and improve the capability of overseas agencies to deal with organised crime threats through training programmes, providing much needed equipment and sharing the NCA experience of how best to tackle emerging threats such as cyber crime and modern slavery. 

Effective collaboration with host nation law enforcement allows us to use their assets and capabilities to support our own priorities and operational work. 

We recognise the need for agility as threat types emerge, change or develop. To combat specific threats we may deploy officers with particular specialist skills to parts of the world where we assess particular crime threats are present that impact adversely upon UK interests. These threats include those from drugs, child sexual abuse and exploitation, cyber crime, corruption and kidnapping. 

Facilitating cooperation with international law enforcement

Our UK International Crime Bureau (UKICB) provides the UK National Central Bureau for INTERPOL and the UK Europol National Unit.

At Europol in the Hague we lead the UK Liaison Bureau. This is a multi-agency team made up of NCA officers and seconded officers from:

  • Metropolitan Police Service
  • HM Revenue & Customs
  • Police Scotland
  • Immigration Enforcement
  • ACRO Criminal Records Office
  • Regional Organised Crime Units

The UK Liaison Bureau supports many serious and organised crime investigations by UK law enforcement agencies

Supporting diplomatic objectives

In addition we recognise the strength and benefits of the UK diplomatic agenda in the fight against serous and organised crime. To that end, NCA international liaison officers also play a vital role in supporting the UK with diplomatic efforts globally. .

Enhancing stability and improving cooperation with foreign partners has huge benefits to the security and economic prosperity of the UK.

The constructive relationships we have developed internationally mean that our international liaison officers enjoy unique access to the very highest levels of host nation governance, including Interior Ministries, intelligence agencies, law enforcement bodies and National Security Councils that other representatives of the UK government may not have. 

Working together with partners from across UK government, including the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Home Office, this privileged access is a critical platform from which to promote ‘Global Britain’, and the values this represents, including respect for human rights and commitment to the rules-based international order.

Latest news on this threat

Nana Oppong mugshot

Most Wanted fugitive arrested in Morocco

A man wanted over a drive-by murder in Essex has been arrested in Morocco.

01 February 2023
Intercepted boat

NCA plays crucial role in huge Atlantic cocaine seizure

National Crime Agency officers have played a crucial role in an international operation that has seen 4.6 tonnes of cocaine seized on its way to Europe.

07 December 2022
Dean Garforth custody image

Most Wanted fugitive arrested in Marbella

An alleged drugs and firearms supplier and one of the UK’s most wanted men has been arrested in Marbella.

26 October 2022
All news

Latest vacancies

There are currently no open vacancies related to this article. Click on the button below to view all vacancies.

All current vacancies

Share this page:

TOP ˄
0370 496 7622
NCA general enquiries or to verify an NCA officer, available 24/7
Click CEOP logo: Advice, Help, Report
  • Who we are

  • Our mission
  • What we do

  • How we investigate
  • How we work
  • News

  • Most wanted

  • Careers

  • A day in the life
  • Current vacancies
  • Contact us

  • Operation Stovewood
  • Suspicious activity reports
  • Verify an NCA officer
  • Complaints

Follow us

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Publications
  • Accessibility statement
© Crown Copyright
© Crown Copyright