CUSTOMS AND POLICE TO JOIN FORCES ON CRIME

A secret government assessment of Britain's ability to fight the
growing menace from organised crime gangs could herald an overhaul of
police, Customs and intelligence operations.

Senior police officers believe the "cross-cutting review", headed by a
senior Home Office official, may launch controversial plans to
streamline intelligence gathering and even raise the possibility of
some amalgamations between national police units and Customs operations.

Ministers are studying the interim findings of the assessment into
five national agencies or units before deciding whether to order
further scrutinies or call on officials to begin drawing up plans for
changes. One Home Office source said the assessment may well "tread on
some toes".

Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, has made clear to senior commanders
that he is growing increasingly concerned about the threat from
international and organised crime. More than 70 per cent of organised
crime is now linked to drugs and the Government can succeed in its
promise to cut drug abuse only if the suppliers are blocked.

The assessment was launched last November to look at the effectiveness
of fighting organised crime and its cost. The team, which includes
Treasury officials, has also examined overlaps between the different
agencies and police, especially in areas like intelligence gathering.

The brief for the review included examining the responsibilities
divided between the National Crime Squad, the National Criminal
Intelligence Service, MI5, Customs and GCHQ, the security
establishment in Cheltenham. Police and Customs operations could face
changes.

It is possible that the National Crime Squad, started two years ago as
a British version of the FBI, might eventually be merged with the
National Criminal Intelligence Service. NCS has 1,400 detectives drawn
from forces across the country to target several hundred of the
country's most powerful criminals and gangs. Customs has its own
national intelligence unit and investigation branch.

A national police blueprint for greatly reducing crime rates by using
criminal intelligence to spot prolific offenders, serial incidents and
"hotspots", was launched yesterday. Copies of the intelligence model
drawn up by the National Criminal Intelligence Service are being sent
to every chief constable.