Major review into serious and organised crime
Written by News on 29/10/2019
A review is to be launched into serious crime, which costs the UK economy £37bn a year.
The review, to be completed by spring next year, will look at how serious and organised crime are tackled.
The crimes looked at will include people trafficking, drugs, county lines gangs, child exploitation and fraud.
Also examined will be funding and the powers available to police and the justice system in England and Wales, as well as the role of the National Crime Agency.
It will be led by former deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Sir Craig Mackey, who retired in December.
Sir Craig joined Wiltshire Police in 1984, moving up to become the assistant and then deputy chief constable before taking on the role of chief constable at Cumbria Police.
In October last year, Scotland Yard’s top police officer Cressida Dick defended him after he was criticised for staying in his car as unarmed police constable Keith Palmer was stabbed to death during the 2017 Westminster terror attack.
The review comes just days after the government was criticised for not doing enough to stop people trafficking, following the deaths of 39 people in a container found on an Essex industrial estate.
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Home Secretary Priti Patel said the review would strengthen the UK’s response to serious and organised crime, building on the “existing success” of the NCA.
She added: “The threat is growing and offenders are becoming more sophisticated.
“Serious and organised criminals exploit children and ruthlessly target the most vulnerable in our society, ruining lives and blighting communities.”
There are more than 4,500 serious and organised crime groups in the UK, according to the NCA.
(c) Sky News 2019: Major review into serious and organised crime
