Serious Organised Crime Agency

HC Deb 14 May 2004 vol 421 cc610-1W

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the(a) National Criminal Intelligence Service and (b) National Crime Squad Service Authorities will cease to exist when the Serious Organised Crime Agency becomes operational; and if he will make a statement. [172398]

Ms Blears

Proposals for the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) were set out in the White Paper "One Step Ahead: A 21st century strategy to defeat organised crime" (CM6167), published on 29 March. As the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and the National Crime Squad (NCS) will become part of SOCA there will no longer be a role for the current Service Authority once the new agency comes into being.

We have invited comments on the White Paper proposals by 30 July and will consider these carefully when planning the new agency.