The Home Office should make it clear how much money the National
Crime Agency (NCA) will have for the next three years, a new
report has recommended.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue
Services (HMICFRS) found that the NCA has struggled to improve
its slow and inefficient IT systems due to the short-term and
uncertain nature of its funding – which could be detracting from
the agency’s operational work.
HMICFRS said that the NCA was focusing its investigations on the
right areas in line with national security threats, and that the
agency manages investigations rigorously, with effective
prioritisation of its resources.
The inspectorate made several recommendations, including that:
- the Home Office should make it clear how much money the NCA
will have for the next three years to allow the agency to invest
in longer-term projects;
- the NCA should ensure officers are not using personal mobile
phones to obtain evidence and communicate during covert
operations;
- the NCA should ensure all officers have access to a radio
during operations or when dealing with suspects, and that
officers have the knowledge and confidence to use these radios
correctly; and
- the NCA should consider investing in updated surveillance
equipment so that officers have the quality of equipment needed
to tackle the most sophisticated criminals.
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr
said:
“Our inspection focused on how the National Crime Agency
investigates serious organised crime and at what cost. We are
satisfied that the NCA is meeting its statutory obligation in
this area.
“While we found evidence of good practice, we also had concerns
in some areas – including the use of personal mobile phones
during covert operations, and officers not always having access
to radios – which could mean they are at risk in volatile
situations. The NCA has told us that it has now taken steps to
rectify these issues.
“The NCA has struggled to resolve IT issues, potentially at the
detriment of its operational work to tackle sophisticated
criminals in the UK and abroad. We therefore recommend that the
Home Office should make it clear how much money the NCA will have
for the next three years, so the agency can invest where it needs
to – including in better IT systems.”
