National Crime Agency chief Lynne Owens says this includes more than doubling the NCA's yearly budget from £424 million to £1.1 billion.
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The National Crime Agency has stated that an extra £3 billion is needed to fight organised crime.
Its chief Lynne Owens says this includes more than doubling the NCA’s yearly budget from £424 million to £1.1 billion.
She will claim in a statement that the public will feel the consequences if the cash is not found.
Adding further, she claimed the threat from these offenders is rapidly changing in “scale and complexity”.
One of the biggest threats is said to come from the dark web.
In the review, it was said that there are more than 4,500 groups with over 37,000 members, but this can miss out those on the dark web.
Ms Owens added further: “It’s a number of things, it’s globalisation.”
“It’s the rapid use and expansion of technology, it’s the development of encryption and it’s the demand for services”.
“It’s paedophiles using the dark web to target children in their bedrooms.”
“Those who dominate communities using fear and violence through the trade of drugs and firearms and illicit finance and cyber crime”.
Ms Owens says that British investigators need an extra £2.7 billion over three years.
This would include an extra £650 million annually for her agency.
She says that extra cash would be less than the weekly estimated cost of organised crime to the UK.
“Enhancing our capabilities is critical to our national security. If we don’t, the whole of UK law enforcement, and therefore the public, will feel the consequences.
“Some will say we cannot afford to provide more investment, but I say we cannot afford not to.”
Responding to the NCA’s call for more money, security minister Ben Wallace admitted the threat was large – but did not immediately promise any more spending immediately.
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HeadlineNCA says budget to fight organised crime needs to double
Short HeadlineOrganised crime budget needs to double
StandfirstBudget to fight organised crime needs to double according to the NCA
The National Crime Agency has stated that an extra £3 billion is needed to fight organised crime.
Its chief Lynne Owens says this includes more than doubling the NCA’s yearly budget from £424 million to £1.1 billion.
She will claim in a statement that the public will feel the consequences if the cash is not found.
Adding further, she claimed the threat from these offenders is rapidly changing in “scale and complexity”.
One of the biggest threats is said to come from the dark web.
In the review, it was said that there are more than 4,500 groups with over 37,000 members, but this can miss out those on the dark web.
Ms Owens added further: “It’s a number of things, it’s globalisation.”
“It’s the rapid use and expansion of technology, it’s the development of encryption and it’s the demand for services”.
“It’s paedophiles using the dark web to target children in their bedrooms.”
“Those who dominate communities using fear and violence through the trade of drugs and firearms and illicit finance and cyber crime”.
Ms Owens says that British investigators need an extra £2.7 billion over three years.
This would include an extra £650 million annually for her agency.
She says that extra cash would be less than the weekly estimated cost of organised crime to the UK.
“Enhancing our capabilities is critical to our national security. If we don’t, the whole of UK law enforcement, and therefore the public, will feel the consequences.
“Some will say we cannot afford to provide more investment, but I say we cannot afford not to.”
Responding to the NCA’s call for more money, security minister Ben Wallace admitted the threat was large – but did not immediately promise any more spending immediately.
A 2024 Freedom of Information request showed Bromley Council had £4.5 million invested in arms companies that year with £1.5 million reportedly linked to Israel.
Undercover officers raided three linked shops in Barking town centre, revealing how illicit tobacco is being hidden in walls, ceilings and nearby locations to evade detection.
More than 330,000 people across the UK sought support from the Stop It Now helpline in 2025 over concerns about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children, according to new charity data. The anonymous service says contacts by phone, email and webchat rose significantly over the year.
