UK plans to create 'British FBI' to bring national investigations under single police force [View all]
Source: AP
Updated 6:09 AM EST, January 25, 2026
LONDON (AP) The British government said Sunday that it will unveil plans this week to create a new national police force, dubbed the British FBI, to take charge on complex investigations such as counterterrorism, fraud, online child abuse and criminal gangs.
The National Police Service will bring under the same umbrella the work of existing agencies dealing with terrorism and crime, police helicopters and policing of the roads, and regional organized crime units in England and Wales.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the new body will lift the burden on the 43 local police forces in England and Wales, helping them focus solely on day-to-day crimes within their jurisdictions. Some local forces lack the skills or resources they need to fight complex modern crime such as fraud, online child abuse or organized criminal gangs, she said.
Mahmood said the current model was built for a different century and that the new body will attract world-class talent as well as helping to keep a lid on costs by moving procurement to one national force.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/britain-police-terrorism-fraud-gangs-1feb74571e874e12514d8b9f4b59fc98