NCA's IT Systems Fail Inspection: Need for Long-Term Strategy and Cultural Change

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has been given six months to work with the UK Home Office to produce a long-term, costed IT strategy after the first agency-wide His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection found that existing systems were “not fit for purpose”; the NCA has also been urged to address staff shortages that impact on analysis capabilities and act on workforce concerns over bullying, harassment and discrimination, reports Policing Insight’s Sarah Gibbons.

❝We found that the NCA’s IT infrastructure wasn’t fit for purpose... The need for sustainable and targeted investment in the NCA’s IT infrastructure and systems cannot be underestimated.❞ - Lee Freeman KPM, HMICFRS

❝Many users told us that the delayed and protracted roll-out of a system upgrade had been difficult, especially as several of the agency’s systems and applications weren’t compliant with the new system. Many also said that the agency’s IT hindered them in their role.❞ - HMICFRS NCA inspection

❝Inspectors add that ‘these problems aren’t solely the NCA’s to resolve’, and the report recommends the agency work closely with the Home Office to produce a long-term (such as 10 years) costed strategy by the end of September.❞

❝Due to the staffing shortages in the international desks, the desk officers don’t have enough capacity to develop intelligence. One desk officer described their role as simply acting as a ‘post box’ for intelligence.❞ - HMICFRS NCA inspection

❝Bullying, harassment and discrimination is a significant issue within the NCA, and there is a need for cultural change. The NCA has taken steps to reduce bullying, harassment, victimisation and discrimination, but it needs to do more to eradicate it.❞ - HMICFRS NCA inspection

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