The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) will be abolished in place of a National Crime Agency (NCA) following an “unsatisfactory” performance.

The proposal was announced in a consultation launched by the Home Secretary earlier this week.

In its coalition agreement, the Government mentioned reviewing SOCA, but now it will be transformed into the NCA. It is envisaged that the new agency will be made up of a number of operational commands, under the leadership of a chief constable. It will incorporate the work of SOCA and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and “better connect” these capabilities to those within the police service, HM Revenue and Customs, the UK Border Agency and other criminal justice partners.

Policing Minister Nick Herbert told the Home Affairs Select Committee this week that the decision was partly influenced by SOCA’s current performance in asset recovery being unsatisfactory.

“We will look to make the NCA accountable and outcome focused. The NCA will have a significantly different remit to SOCA,” he added.

Sir Paul Stephenson, also giving evidence to the committee, supported assertions that the current approach to serious and organised crime is uncoordinated. He referred to a report he produced in 2003 on the subject and said he remained disappointed.

“Hopefully the NCA will represent a step change,” he said.