UK to launch 'British FBI' to tackle terrorism and organized crime

2026-01-25 - 21:06

LONDON — The British government said Sunday it will unveil plans this week to create a new national police force, dubbed the “British FBI,” to lead complex investigations including counterterrorism, fraud, online child abuse and organized criminal gangs. The proposed National Police Service would bring together under one umbrella existing bodies responsible for terrorism and serious crime, police aviation, national roads policing and regional organized crime units across England and Wales. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the move would ease pressure on the 43 local police forces in England and Wales, allowing them to focus on day-to-day crime in their communities. “Some local forces lack the skills or resources they need to fight complex modern crime such as fraud, online child abuse or organized criminal gangs,” Mahmood said. She described the current policing model as “built for a different century,” arguing that a national service would attract world-class expertise and reduce costs by centralizing procurement and specialist capabilities. Mahmood said the full proposals will be presented to Parliament on Monday. The plans are also expected to include a reduction in the number of police forces in England and Wales, along with reforms to police recruitment and management. The proposal has been broadly welcomed within policing circles. The Metropolitan Police, which currently leads counterterrorism efforts, said it supports the creation of a single national service to handle the most complex and serious threats.