(The Secretary of State for the
Home Department): I have reappointed Lynne Owens to be the Director
General of the National Crime Agency for a further two years from
January 2021. The Director General holds an extremely important
position in UK Law Enforcement, leading and coordinating the
response to Serious and Organised Crime (SOC). SOC affects more UK
citizens than any other national security threat and costs us more
than £37 billion every year.
It is customary to advertise the post of DG NCA to attract the
very best talent available from as wide a field as possible –
and, under normal circumstances, I would pursue this approach.
However, this year is different for two important reasons. First,
the UK is facing a threat unparalleled in peacetime from the
coronavirus pandemic, and the NCA is playing a key part by
working closely with its law enforcement partners to ensure that
we are stopping the organised criminals who despicably try to use
the crisis to their advantage.
Second, the way in which the UK tackles SOC is at a crucial stage
in its development. The Independent Review of SOC conducted by
Sir Craig Mackey has concluded, and the findings are being
explored by the Home Office. The Government will announce its
response later in the year, but developing the capabilities and
role of the NCA will be key to that response. The NCA must
continue with its excellent work, but it must also strive to
develop and improve to ensure we stay ahead of the threat from
SOC.
There is an overwhelming need, therefore, for an experienced
leader at the NCA to provide stability while we tackle the
coronavirus pandemic and to ensure effective delivery of this
Government’s manifesto commitment to strengthen the Agency. I
have no doubt that in Lynne’s reappointment we will continue to
see the work of a fantastic leader. During a career in law
enforcement over 30 years, she has built up a wealth of
experience holding a variety of different positions from
frontline policing to Chief Constable of Surrey and, of course,
Director General of the NCA.
