The National Crime Agency is reportedly “on its knees” as it struggles with a net loss of officers, despite being central to Keir Starmer’s strategy to “smash the gangs.” The agency is losing more personnel than it is able to recruit, undermining its operational effectiveness.
The National Crime Agency, central to Keir Starmer’s plan to “smash the gangs,” is reportedly “on its knees” and experiencing a net loss of officers.
A recent report highlights that the agency’s performance in combating traffickers and hostile states is “hobbled.” According to Spotlight on Corruption, an anti-corruption charity, this decline is due to a significant number of critical vacancies and insufficient investment, which could have “potentially catastrophic” consequences.
The NCA plays a central role in the Prime Minister’s strategy to “smash” people smugglers in the Channel. Despite overseeing more than 70 active investigations into the most prolific trafficking gangs, a new report warns that its operational effectiveness is significantly impaired.
The newly established Border Security Command will oversee the strategy to combat people traffickers, while the NCA is tasked with much of the enforcement. However, according to The Times, the NCA has lost more personnel than it has hired in two of the three years covered by the report.
Despite hiring over 500 new officers in 2022-2023, the agency’s staff numbers have still declined. The report reveals that more than a quarter of senior managers are leaving annually, and nine percent of advertised positions remain unfilled. Additionally, the NCA’s IT systems are described as “creaking,” with concerns that it will struggle to manage ransomware attacks.
These issues are reportedly worsened by the government’s reluctance to invest in the agency, resulting in the NCA spending £90 million in the past year on temporary staff and external consultants.
