National Crime Squad

[1] Formed in April 1998 after the amalgamation of six former Regional Crime Squads, it merged with parts of HM Customs & Excise and the National Criminal Intelligence Service on 1 April 2006 to become the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

Subsequent to the Police Reform Act 2002, the NCS Service Authority reported directly to the Home Office and had nationwide and international jurisdiction.

The NCS primarily dealt with organised crime, major drug trafficking, contract killing, arms trafficking, human trafficking, computer and high tech crimes, money counterfeiting and laundering, extortion, kidnapping and murder relating to any of the above.

[2] Lastly, it augmented and supported regional forces throughout the United Kingdom.

The NCS headquarters was at Pimlico in London, with three Regional Operational Command Units: Northern, Eastern, and Western with an extensive residential property estate plus other premises.