UK Protected Persons Service

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The UK Protected Persons Service (UKPPS) is an service provided by the government of the United Kingdom that provides personal protection to people at risk of serious harm, such as those requiring witness protection or at threat from domestic abuse, honour-based violence, or organized crime. [1] It works with the National Crime Agency and British police forces. [2] The service can provide protected people with new identities and homes. [3]

The UKPPS was set up in 2013, [4] [5] and was reorganized to be under centralized control by the National Crime Agency in 2019. [6] As of 2014, the service provided protection for around 3000 people at a cost of around £20 million per year. [7]

Section 4 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 makes provision for witness protection services. [8]

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References

  1. "Covid: The never-ending lockdown of witness protection". BBC News. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  2. "Protected persons". National Crime Agency. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  3. Anonymous (2022-10-19). "A moment that changed me: I was given a new identity to protect me from my abusive ex". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  4. "UK wide protection for witnesses as new national scheme launched". GOV.UK. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  5. "Working inside the UK Protected Persons Service | National Crime Agency". www.wired-gov.net. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  6. Thompson, Tony (Mar 28, 2019). "Major reorganisation sees NCA take control of Protected Persons Service". Police Professional. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  7. "Up to 3,000 people believed to be in witness protection programmes in UK". the Guardian. 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  8. "Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, Part 2 Chapter 4". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-19.