Britain's National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) was launched in April 1992 to provide leadership and excellence in criminal
intelligence. The organisation aims to combat the top echelons
of crime and seeks the ultimate arrest or disruption of major
criminals in the UK. NCIS is one of the first services to be set
up in Europe to deal with the development of criminal intelligence
on a national scale with approximately 500 staff drawn from the
police, Customs and Excise and the Home Office. It aims to help
law enforcement and other agencies, at home and abroad, by processing
and disseminating information, giving guidance and direction,
and analysing major criminal activity.
Apart from a resources division NCIS comprises the Headquarters (HQ), United Kingdom (UK) and International divisions. HQ Division includes an operational support unit, an intelligence co-ordination unit, policy and research unit and a strategic and specialist intelligence branch. The latter's responsibilities vary from organised crime to football hooliganism. Five regional offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Wakefield are overseen by the UK Division which also includes a Scottish/Irish Liaison Unit, currently based in London.
The International division manages a network of European Drugs Liaison officers (DLOs) and is linked up with the world-wide DLO network managed by Customs and Excise. The UK Bureau of Interpol is also based within this division enabling NCIS to have direct access to Interpol's 176 member countries.
Information processed by NCIS plays a vital part in tackling serious crime in Britain, and is used to assist police forces in other countries. The service gathers intelligence on offenders ranging from drug traffickers, money launderers and organised criminal groups to paedophiles and football hooligans.