Regional police e-crime hubs set to tackle cyber threats

08 Feb 12

Cyber crime has been identified in the National Security Risk Assessment as a ‘Tier One’ threat alongside international terrorism, an international military crisis and a major accident or natural hazard requiring a national response.

To meet the threat, the Government has granted £30 million over four years to improve the national capability to investigate and combat cyber crime.

The new hubs - located in Yorkshire and the Humber, the Northwest and in the East Midlands - are being launched at the ACPO e-crime Conference in Sheffield.

These units will work alongside the Metropolitan Police Centre e-crime Unit (PCeU) which was established in October 2008 as part of the National e-Crime Programme.

Structured response to cyber security

ACPO's lead on e-crime, deputy assistant commissioner Janet Williams, said: “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."

Williams continued: “It's anticipated the hubs will make a significant contribution to the national harm reduction target of £504 million. In the first six months of the new funding period alone we have already been able to show a reduction of £140 million with our existing capability."

The deputy assistant commissioner added: “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."

James Brokenshire, the minister responsible for crime and security issues, said: “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. 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."

He concluded: “The Government has committed £650 million in the fight against e-crime.”

Exploiting cyber space for profit

Regional e-crime co-ordinator for the East Midlands, deputy chief constable Peter Goodman, commented: "There is no doubt that the proliferation of the Internet has brought significant benefits to all across society, but unfortunately that also includes those who have criminal intent. We know that criminal networks are increasingly seeking to exploit cyber space for profit, and we have a duty as police leaders to respond to protect individuals and communities.”

Within the first 18 months of activity, the central unit conducted seven operations across the England, Wales and Northern UK region which resulted in an overall harm prevention figure of £83 million: a 1:21 saving on funding.

PCeU Northwest, PCeU East Midlands and PCeU Yorkshire and the Humber will initially each comprise of three staff members (detective sergeant and two detective constables), and will operate not only by generating their own investigations but in a supporting capacity to the Metropolitan Police Service’s PCeU.