Former Spy Chief to Head British Version of FBI
Britain named a former spy chief on Friday to head a new national police unit modeled on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to fight organized crime. Home Secretary David Blunkett said former security service chief Stephen Lander will head the Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) — a specialist organization set up to tackle drug traffickers, people smugglers, global pedophile 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 organization,” Blunkett said in a statement. Full Story