The UK government plans to establish a new national police force, informally dubbed the “British FBI,” to oversee complex and serious crime investigations across England and Wales.

Axar.az, citing AP, reports that the proposed National Police Service would centralize responsibilities currently handled by multiple agencies, including counterterrorism, fraud, online child abuse, organized crime units, police aviation, and road policing.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the reform aims to ease pressure on the country’s 43 local police forces, allowing them to focus on everyday crime while the national body tackles sophisticated and cross-border threats. She described the existing policing structure as outdated and ill-suited to modern crime challenges.

The government argues the new model would attract top-tier expertise, improve efficiency and reduce costs through centralized procurement. Full details are expected to be presented to Parliament, alongside proposals to reduce the number of police forces and reform recruitment and management systems. The plan has been broadly welcomed by senior policing figures, including London’s Metropolitan Police.