Home Department

However, the inspectorate also reported that the NCA must urgently strengthen its IT capability and strategy, identifying this as a cause of concern. It highlighted the need for substantial investment and co-ordinated action to transform the agency’s IT. To address this, the Home Office has supported the NCA in significantly increasing its capital departmental expenditure limit budget from £173 million in 2025-26 to £224 million in 2028-29—which should enable the NCA to address its technology debt and advance its transformation programme, delivering greater efficiencies and productivity gains. The inspectorate also noted that more could be done to support, develop and retain a highly skilled workforce. The spending review settlement will support this process as the agency’s core revenue departmental expenditure limit will increase from £619 million in 2025-26 to £715 million in 2026-27.

Overall, the inspectorate has made three recommendations linked to one cause of concern and 10 areas of improvement. These recommendations will support the agency’s continuing work to enhance its IT and address the challenges identified. The agency accepts the findings and steps are already being taken to address the challenges highlighted during the inspection. I want to thank HMICFRS for this vital inspection.

I have asked my officials to work closely with the NCA and HMICFRS to deliver the necessary changes and ensure recommendations align with the proposals I set out in the White Paper on police reform on 26 January. This included plans to create a new national police service which, in its final state, will bring together national and cross-border policing capabilities, including the NCA. The new national police service will drive efficiencies, reduce duplication and deliver the capabilities needed to respond to national and international threats. The necessary legislative provisions to establish the national police service will be included in the police reform Bill announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May.

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An increase in National Crime Agency officers dedicated to tackling high street money laundering and associated criminality;

Dedicated operational activity by Greater Manchester police, West Midlands police, and by a joint Kent police and Essex police unit;

An annual national multi-agency crackdown on money laundering through the high street and associated criminality;

Increased local authority capacity to strengthen trading standards and wider business compliance on the high street;

An HMRC-led targeted surge against tax evasion and illicit finance on the high street; and

A communications and compliance campaign aimed at high street businesses, focused on raising awareness of illegal working.

Through this funding, the Government are empowering law enforcement agencies, local authorities and community partners to protect our high streets, disrupt criminal activity and support thriving local businesses. As a result of the funding, I expect to see:

A surge in enforcement targeting organised crime’s exploitation of high street businesses;

Local authorities, regulators and police equipped with the necessary tools, data and co-ordination to identify, investigate and disrupt high street criminality; and

Communities experiencing fewer harms and feeling more confident in their local high streets, supporting thriving businesses.

Tackling organised criminality on the high street is only one component of a larger strategy to revitalise the UK’s high streets. As such, this unit supports the work of the Government’s high streets strategy to protect communities and create resilient, thriving high streets, led by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

I will update the House on progress as the unit develops its strategic policy recommendations.

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