New powers for mob-busters
The government has today released details of a new police force to combat organised crime.
The Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) will be 5,000 agents strong and is being set up to tackle “Mr Bigs”.
It will be able to force lawyers, bankers and accountants to choose between giving details of their clients or face prison themselves.
The details were released in the government’s new white paper “One Step Ahead: A 21st Century Strategy to Defeat Organised Criminals”.
Other powers SOCA will have include the use of phone tap evidence in court, a national witness protection scheme and the ability to strike formal deals with informants.
Security services have some concerns about the admissibility of surveillance data. They feel that it might throw light on their methods, making it harder to obtain information in future.
But home secretary David Blunkett explained: “A year ago, if you had asked me [about admitting surveillance data], I would have been very sceptical.
“I am much more convinced that, in a limited range of cases, intercept evidence would make sense.”
SOCA is set to combine the roles of the National Criminal Intelligence Service, National Crime Squad and the investigative arms of Customs and Excise and the immigration service.
If the white paper proceeds as expected it will come into force by 2006.
