Britain Announces the Establishment of a National Police Force to Serve as a 'Federal Investigation Office'

SadaNews - British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the establishment of a national police force in the United Kingdom, tasked with responsibilities similar to those of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation, and will be responsible for investigating counter-terrorism, fraud, and crimes that have previously been assigned to various agencies or local bodies.

This announcement comes as Mahmood prepares to present "the largest reforms in security since the establishment of police services 200 years ago" on Monday, according to a statement from the Home Office.

The new national police force will be responsible for combating "serious and complex crimes," and will unify the activities of existing agencies, such as the National Crime Agency and regional organized crime units.

The new service will also take over counter-terrorism investigations currently led by the Metropolitan Police of London.

The statement quoted Mahmood as saying: "The current police model is designed for the next century."

She added: "Some local forces lack the skills or resources necessary to tackle modern complex crimes."

With the establishment of the new national police agency, described as the "British FBI," local forces will be able to devote more time to tackling local crimes, such as drug trafficking and shoplifting, the minister confirmed.

The national police agency will be headed by a national police commissioner, who will become the highest-ranking police official in the country.

The ministry has not disclosed the number of personnel in this new force.

On Monday, Shabana Mahmood will present a white paper titled "From Local to National: A New Model for Policing," which she defines as a "radical" reform plan.

On Friday, the Home Office confirmed that home ministers will soon have the authority to dismiss police officials in cases of "serious or repeated misconduct."