Britain named a former spy chief on Friday to head a new national police unit modelled on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to fight organised crime.
Home Secretary David Blunkett said former security service chief Stephen Lander will head the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) - a specialist organisation set up to tackle drug traffickers, people smugglers, global paedophile networks and sophisticated fraudsters.
Lander headed MI5, Britain's domestic spy agency, for six years until 2002.
"Sir Stephen Lander has considerable experience of the management of intelligence, decisive leadership and proven track record of public service which make him an exceptional asset to the organisation," Blunkett said in a statement.
The agency will have new powers such as the use of evidence from phone tapping, plea bargaining for witnesses, and a more sophisticated witness protection programme.
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