Government to phase out NPIA and Soca

Home secretary Theresa May told Parliament on 26 July 2010 that the told Parliament that the NPIA, which runs national police systems including the National DNA Database, will be "phased out" by spring 2010. A consultative document published by the Home Office says that, while the NPIA "has done much to bring about welcome changes to policing," it made sense to close it by spring 2012. The document said that the government will look at what parts of NPIA's work should continue. "Some of its support functions are clearly critical to successful policing such as the provision of essential national police infrastructure, like central databases. We will look at options for how the NPIA's critical national infrastructure and value for money support functions are best taken forward." It adds that the National Crime Agency could take responsibility for NPIA's national databases, "provided it did not detract from its operational focus". The document says that the government aims to introduce the agency fully by 2013, with key elements operational before then. May also announced government plans to "build on the work" of the Serious Organised Crime Agency and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre to create a National Crime Agency. This will also take over border policing. The consultative document says the government also aims to look for "a cost-effective way" of introducing the 101 non-emergency telephone number nationally, as part of Big Society work on getting people involved in policing. The number is currently available only in Wales, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and Sheffield. It adds that 101 services will be used for reporting crime and anti-social behaviour. "Over time, this would enable local partners to join up with the police to provide even more streamlined access and efficient services for the public according to local needs and local priorities," the document says.