Crime Bill sets out plans for 'British FBI'

Plans for Britain's version of the FBI, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca), have been unveiled today as part of the government's Bill to reform the powers of law enforcement agencies.

Under the Home Office's Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, the police will have the power of arrest for all offences; suspects will be compelled to answer questions in interview; more arrest warrants will be issued more quickly; and roadside fingerprinting and the taking of footwear impressions will be permitted.

It will also be made "more attractive" for convicted offenders to help secure the convictions of other, more serious offenders, by putting Queen's evidence on a statutory footing and offering sentence reductions "where appropriate".

One Minister said that Soca would pursue "specialised and relentless attack" on organised crime.

Critics of the government have hit out at the intemperate language used to announce the package – and accused the Ministers of creating a climate of fear and exploiting it to for political advantage.

The Home Office said its Bill is designed to help crack the "scourge of organised criminals, who trade in fear and intimidation, tearing apart communities and affecting the quality of life of every citizen".

Speaking after the publication of Bill, Home Secretary David Blunkett warned that organised crime affected "each and every one of us… through every community, destroying lives through drugs, people smuggling and prostitution".

He added: "The burglar who steals to feed his drug habit, the billions lost to the country through tax fraud and the terrorist gangs financing their operations through credit card fraud - organised crime gangs are costing this country at least £20 billion a year and must be stopped.

"This bill represents the fulfillment of a lot of hard work. The new agency will add value to the work of the existing agencies and link intelligence, investigation and intervention in new ways."

Soca chief, Sir Stephen Lander, said the agency represented "one of the biggest changes in UK law enforcement since the 1960s", and would offer a "real opportunity" to make a difference.

Also in the Bill are plans to extend the harassment laws to protect people from animal rights extremists and measures to prohibit people stirring up hatred against people because of their religious beliefs.

(gmcg/sp)