serious organised crime agency

The creation of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in the United Kingdom was announced on February 9, 2004. SOCA will counteract organised crime, including the illegal drug trade and people smuggling, and will co-operate closely with the police, intelligence agencies, Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and others. The agency, expected to be in operation by 2006, is to be formed from the merger of the National Crime Squad, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the investigative and intelligence sections of Customs and Excise on serious drug trafficking, and the Immigration Service's responsibilities for organised immigration crime. The agency will be funded by central government and is expected to have around 5,000 investigators. It will be headed by Sir Stephen Lander, former Director-General of MI5. The Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, which will create the new agency, was introduced into the House of Commons on 24 November 2004. Parallels have been drawn between the organisation and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation: indeed, the press has labelled SOCA as the "British FBI". However, SOCA will not handle terrorism or murder.

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