The National Police Service (NPS) is the fourth or fifth iteration of a “British FBI”, not the third (What is Shabana Mahmood proposing in ‘biggest ever’ policing reforms? 26 January). Before the Serious And Organised Crime Agency and the National Crime Agency, we had a National Crime Squad, and before that a National Criminal Intelligence Service.
The new NPS may have too wide a remit to be manageable. Many Met police commissioners end their time badly because of the extent of their responsibilities – public order, counter-terrorism, mid-range organised crime, street crime, drunks, knives, road traffic, domestic disturbances, dealing with the mentally unwell, and the vetting and personnel problems of police and civilian staff.
The head of the NPS will deal with counter-terrorism, take over the existing regional crime units, address fraud in all its forms and will also cover cybercrime, large-scale sexual exploitation and people-trafficking, as the National Crime Agency does now.
These are all different skills, and staff will have to be transferred from their existing positions. Much frontline work, including cyber and fraud, is carried out by constables and sergeants; in the police, higher ranks and better salaries go to managers and administrators. , Because of poor career progression, the National Crime Agency and other elite units have a staff retention problem, which needs resolving. Who would want to lead the NPS?
Peter Sommer
London
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