Home Secretary Chris Philp has issued a direct and uncompromising command to the UK's top law enforcement body, the National Crime Agency (NCA), to significantly ramp up its offensive against the country's most nefarious organised crime groups.
In a decisive move that signals a new front in the government's war on crime, Philp has instructed the elite agency to adopt a more aggressive posture. The strategy hinges on a two-pronged attack: relentlessly pursuing the kingpins themselves and systematically stripping them of their ill-gotten wealth.
Targeting the Profits of Crime
The directive makes it clear that simply disrupting criminal activity is no longer sufficient. The new priority is to dismantle the entire financial infrastructure that makes large-scale crime profitable. Philp has called for a substantial increase in the use of criminal confiscation orders and civil powers to recover cash and assets, effectively hitting gangs where it hurts most—their wallets.
This financial-focused approach aims to cripple the operational capabilities of syndicates involved in drug trafficking, cybercrime, and fraud, preventing them from simply rebuilding their networks after arrests.
A Unified National Effort
Recognising that these criminal networks operate across regional borders, the Home Secretary is pushing for enhanced collaboration. His plan mandates that the NCA works in lockstep with regional organised crime units and local police forces to create a seamless, national intelligence picture.
This coordinated effort is designed to ensure that no criminal can find safe harbour in one region while being pursued in another, closing the loopholes that have previously been exploited.
This announcement underscores the government's hardening stance on serious and organised crime, framing it not just as a law enforcement issue, but as a direct threat to the UK's national and economic security that requires a robust, uncompromising response.
