Blair to unveil 'FBI-style agency'

[T_i_B]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=489265

The creation of a new FBI-style national law enforcement agency was being announced today by Tony Blair.

A new force expected to boast at least 5,000 investigators will focus on serious and organised crime such as drug trafficking, people smuggling and fraud. It will operate across the UK in at least some of its functions. The creation of such a large and powerful agency will be the biggest police shake-up since 1964, when the boundaries of the existing 43 forces in England and Wales were set.

An elite squad of specialist investigators will replace the existing National Crime Squad (NCS) and the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), and also take over the investigative functions of Customs and Excise and the immigration service.

There were reports at the weekend that former New York police chief Bill Bratton could be named as head of the new organisation. Mr Blunkett is an admirer of Mr Bratton's zero tolerance tactics which saw crime in New York City fall by more than a third.