WEB AND MOBILE FRAUD
Tightening the net on the net
Cyber-crime fighting is being boosted by a new multi-million pound Home Office initiative to shine light on the so-called Dark Web.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced the funding to tackle those who use the anonymity of the online space for illegal activities such as the selling of firearms, drugs, malware and people.
More than £5 million will also be used to support the police service to establish dedicated cyber-crime units designed to investigate and pursue cyber criminals at a regional and local level.
The funding is part of £50 million of newly allocated money to ensure that police and prosecutors have the capabilities they need to tackle cyber-crime at a national, regional and local level during the course of 2018-2019.
Rudd stated: “The world of cyber is fast-developing and we need a fast-developing response to match.
“I’m pleased to announce that we will be investing over £50 million across the next year to bolster cyber capabilities within law enforcement at a national, regional and local level.
“We need to make sure we stay not just at pace, but rather steps ahead of those who seek to exploit the possibilities of modern technology. I’m determined that this Government will continue to tighten the net.”
A proportion of the £50 million will be used to develop a new national training programme for police and the wider criminal justice system that’s sponsored by the National Police Chiefs Council.
This will equip officers with the tools to properly investigate and prosecute cases of cyber-crime, including those relating to The Dark Web.
The Cyber Aware campaign, a special cross-Government initiative, will also receive a further £3 million of funding for 2018-2019 in order to educate members of the public and businesses alike when it comes to the latest advice on how to protect themselves from cyber-crime.
