Police open regional e-crime hubs

UK POLICE FORCES are looking to strengthen their anti e-crime resources with the opening of three facilities in the North and Midlands.

The government has pledged £650m to help fight cybercrime, which is increasingly being referred to in the same tones as terrorism, and the regional hubs will help police to investigate threats and pursue criminals. Grants totaling £30m are being used to set up the facilities.

"Cyber crime is a threat locally and nationally, and every police force in the country has to deal with its impact on people and businesses in their area," said James Brokenshire, UK Minister for Crime and Security.

"As well as leading the fight in their regions, these units mark a significant step forward in developing a national response to cyber crime, which will be driven by the new National Crime Agency."

The three new units will work alongside the Metropolitan Police Central e-crime Unit (PCeU), and will be announced at the Association of Police Officers security event in Sheffield, an event that was mentioned in the FBI-UK conference call recording leaked by Anonymous.

The leak of that recording perhaps highlighted security gaps that plague UK police forces, and perhaps the launch of these new police e-crime facilities do too.

The police forces certainly think that these units will aid them in their investigations. "The Government has acknowledged a need to collaborate and provide a structured response to the cyber security of the UK and these three additional policing units are going to play a critical role in our ability to combat the threat," said ACPO lead on e-crime Deputy Assistant Commissioner Janet Williams.

"While a training period is required before the hubs are fully functional they will undoubtedly provide an enhanced ability to investigate this fast growing area of crime and provide an improved internet investigation capability."

Each unit will house three police officers at launch, a detective sergeant and two detective constables. No prizes for guessing who will be taking turns making the tea. µ