UK launches new unit to tackle transnational crime

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Britain has launched a new unit has to lead the country's work on international crime and enhance its capability for international law enforcement coordination, the national law enforcement agency said on Monday.

In a written statement, the National Crime Agency said the Joint International Crime Centre (JICC) will provide the UK the opportunity to perform a more efficient role in tackling the "growing threat from transnational criminality."

"The JICC will drive, co-ordinate, and support the response of UK policing and law enforcement to international crime," it said.

"It is formed by initially combining the current capabilities housed in the NCA’s International Crime Bureau (UKICB) and policing’s International Crime Coordination Centre (ICCC)."

Steve Rodhouse, director general of operations at the NCA, said the Joint International Crime Centre will improve how policing and the NCA tackle international criminality which affects the UK.

"If we want to crack down on the most dangerous organizations and offenders then we need to tackle them upstream, online, and at source," said Security Minister Tom Tugendhat.

"Organized crime groups don’t recognize borders," he added.

Around 300 officers work at the center, whose governance is jointly overseen by the NCA and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

The Joint International Crime Centre will also help with various services including offender management, extradition, and watchlisting. It will also provide operational support such as surveillance requests, judicial cooperation, and search and locate for the missing.