Could new e-crime police unit stem growing tide of cybercrime?

3 Oct 2008

A new Police Central e-crime Unit (PCeU) has been established in the UK on the back of a £7m sterling investment to fight the global menace of e-crime, which accounts for up to 90pc of crime on the internet.

The new unit, which will be based in the Metropolitan Police Service, will provide specialist officer training and co-ordinate cross-force initiatives to crack down on online offences.

E-crime Minister Vernon Croaker said that e-crime is a global menace that accounts for 80pc to 90pc of crime on the internet, excluding crime relating to children or images of sexual abuse.

The new unit will support the new National Fraud Reporting Centre (NFRC), which will go live next year.

“It is important that we stay one step ahead of criminals who increasingly use sophisticated computer networks and the internet to commit and facilitate crime,” said Minister Croaker.

“The new PCeU will work closely with the NFRC to tackle electronic crime

reported to it. This will ensure that the NFRC has support in this highly specialised area.

“The PCeU will also play a vital role in helping police forces across the country improve the skills and techniques needed to clamp down on e-crime,” Croaker added.

Debit and credit card fraud in the UK currently runs at £302m sterling for the first six months of 2008, according to the banking industry’s APACS figures.

By John Kennedy

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com