National Crime Agency

The National Crime Agency (NCA) is the United Kingdom's lead law enforcement body against serious and organised crime. Established on 7 October 2013, it replaced the Serious Organised Crime Agency and absorbed the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, the UK Human Trafficking Centre, and parts of the National Policing Improvement Agency. Operating as a non-ministerial government department, it functions independently of direct political control, though it answers to the Home Secretary. Its director general, Graeme Biggar, has led the agency since October 2021.

The NCA's remit spans drug trafficking, human smuggling, modern slavery, cybercrime, economic crime, child sexual exploitation, and firearms trafficking. It builds intelligence pictures and works with regional organised crime units, local police forces, and international partners like Interpol and Europol. Officers hold constabulary powers, but the NCA is not a police force. Its creation consolidated a combined budget of £812 million from predecessor bodies, though its first-year budget was cut to £464 million, a 43% reduction that raised concerns about capacity.

Recently, the NCA has been at the centre of high-profile operations and public campaigns. In early August 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood visited its Stratford headquarters, pledging an all-out push to stop Channel crossings. The agency also partnered with the Freeview channel Great! Romance to warn viewers about romance fraud, and issued joint guidance with safety watchdogs about parents posting images of children online amid AI sexual abuse fears. [edit]