Techies are the new currency

AS COMPUTER RELATED CRIME soars, so does the need for help in fighting it, yet what happens when there is no money to donate to such a cause? Well you loan out your employees of course.

At least that is what many UK firms are forced into doing. In the current economic climate, no one has any money left to pledge. However, because this problem is so widespread, something needs to be done.

Many companies are looking to pledge their IT staff to support the £7million Police Central E-Crime Unit (PCeU), which will co-ordinate the law enforcement response to all online offences.

Businesses are expected to loan their staff out on a three month basis in place of monetary donations.

Detective superintendent Charlie McMurdie said that, "Initially the sales pitch to business was 'give us money and we will buy more cops', but it is preferable to get trained, capable members of staff rather than hard cash, as they bring with them an insight into the organisation and the sector."

Investment in this scheme is paramount for companies today, as the cost of e-crime could cripple some businesses. It is for this reason that using techies as bargaining chips seems like a good idea.

Sarah Draper of CBI said, "We recommend cross-pollination between the public and private sector, and in the instance of the PCeU it will allow police to understand business needs on the ground."

Draper also pointed out that the economic climate is forcing many businesses to lay off staff as money is lost, so the PCeU scheme is then also a good way of moving staff on until they're needed back at the company. µ

L'Inq
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