A View from the Exchange: The “British FBI” - a step towards an integrated enforcement landscape?
29 January 2026
On 25 January 2026, the UK government announced plans to establish a new National Police Service (NPS), marking a significant proposed reform to a policing model the government has described as outdated and fragmented.
The accompanying White Book, From Local to National: A New Model for Policing, sets out a phased transition culminating in the NPS becoming a single national operational law enforcement body. At its fullest extent, this would involve consolidating functions currently carried out by Counter-Terrorism Policing, the National Crime Agency (NCA), Regional Organised Crime Units and the Senior National Coordinator role for public order policing.
The announcement follows shortly after the publication of the UK’s Anti-Corruption Strategy in December 2025, which proposes reforms to the UK’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework, including through increased co-ordination across law enforcement agencies and the consolidation of supervisory functions currently exercised by 22 professional body supervisors. Together, these developments suggest a broader policy direction favouring greater centralisation, coordination and specialisation in the supervision and investigation of serious financial crime, fraud and cross-border threats.
The timing is also notable in light of recent developments at the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). In January, the SFO confirmed that its Director, Nick Ephgrave QPM, will step down at the end of March 2026. The unexpected leadership change has reignited long-standing debate over the SFO’s future and the merits of a potential merger with the NCA.
If the NPS proceeds as proposed and absorbs the NCA, questions will inevitably arise as to whether the SFO’s institutional independence is reinforced or whether renewed consideration is given to its integration within a more centralised enforcement model. Government commentary on the NPS to date has provided limited detail on how existing agencies will ultimately be positioned.
Much will therefore depend on the detail of the forthcoming legislation. If properly structured and adequately resourced, the proposed reforms could have a major impact on how serious and complex crime is investigated in the UK.
For financial institutions, this changing landscape signals a possibility of earlier escalation, closer coordination between regulators and criminal authorities, and a more centralised approach to serious financial crime enforcement — reinforcing the importance of investigation readiness and integrated resilience strategies.
Author: Zara Everitt, Solicitor
