The Government will today announce a new strategy to combat organised crime and details of a special agency to investigate it.
NZPA understands the unit will be called the Organised and Financial Crime Agency (Ofcanz), which will be launched on July 1.
The Government announced in September last year that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) would be replaced by a new agency within the police to be called the Organised Crime Unit.
Ofcanz is that agency, broadened from its original concept to specifically include financial crime.
The SFO's special powers to obtain information and require people to answer questions with no right to remain silent will be carried over into the new agency, which will operate within the Police Force.
Details of the new strategy will be announced by Police Minister Annette King. She is expected to say it will provide the focus for Ofcanz, as well as a framework for action.
The strategy will extend to the end of June next year, and after that there will be specific three-yearly strategies based on community safety, prevention, intelligence and enforcement.
The Government believes that amalgamating the skills and experience of the police and the SFO will deliver a new capability to tackle corporate fraud and sophisticated organised crime groups - including gangs.
Ofcanz will consist of specialist task forces that will investigate different aspects of organised crime.
The task forces will be established by the Commissioner of Police, who will decide on priorities at any one time.
Ms King is expected to announce proposed law changes around organised crime, which will include providing identity protection to undercover officers.
Next week, she is expected to announce more law changes involving new search and surveillance powers.
