'Radical' police reforms to be unveiled

Home Secretary Theresa May will announce radical police reforms to tackle criminal gangs and drug smugglers later.

She is widely expected to outline proposals for a new police force, the National Crime Agency, to replace the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).

The Government has pledged to review Soca - which was heralded as "Britain's FBI" when it was launched by Labour in 2006 - as part of a "review of the wider policing landscape".

Mrs May will make a statement in the House of Commons this afternoon. A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The Government wants to ensure all aspects of policing are run effectively to tackle crime.

"This includes serious and organised crime, through strong links between local policing and work done beyond individual forces."

Last year the influential Commons Home Affairs Select Committee accused Soca of lacking transparency and accountability. The cross-party group of MPs pointed to figures that showed only £1 was seized from organised crime gangs for every £15 in Soca's budget.