Britain gets new crime-busters

2006-04-02 20:20

London - A national agency targeting major criminals such as drug-smugglers, people-traffickers and fraudsters is set to begin work on Monday in Britain.

The serious organised crime agency, or Soca, is seen by many as Britain's answer to the FBI, joining experts from the police, customs and immigration services.

The agency, with an annual budget of over £400m, employs about 4 000 officers with the powers of a police officer, a customs officer or an immigration officer.

Forty percent of its budget will go toward fighting drug trafficking.

Soca, Britain's first non-police law-enforcement body, is headed by Sir Stephen Lander, who formerly headed Britain's internal security agency, MI5.

The new agency was formed from the amalgamation of the national crime squad, national criminal intelligence service, part of HM revenue and customs dealing with drug trafficking and associated criminal finance and a part of UK immigration dealing with organised immigration crime.

The new body will liaise with foreign law enforcement agencies to identify links between illegal gangs in Britain and those oversees.

- AP