THE British government on Monday unveiled plans for a far-reaching overhaul of policing that would centralise the fight against cybercrime, fraud and other internet-enabled offences, arguing that the current system is no longer equipped for crimes that are increasingly digital and cross geographic borders.
Proposals published by the Home Office call for the creation of a new National Police Service, described by officials as Britain’s equivalent of the FBI, which would gradually assume responsibility for tackling serious, non-local crimes now handled across dozens of separate police forces. For those familiar with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and its role in investigating cybercrime, note that the NCA will reportedly be merged into the proposed National Police Service.
While the proposal sounds attractive in some respects, including facilitating of sharing of intel, it remains to be seen if it is actually more effective, according to The Record. Postings indicate the reforms are still subject to debate and practical implementation challenges. Read more on The Record.