Met to tackle the wave of cyber crime with ‘world-leading unit’

 
21 November 2013
WEST END FINAL

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Scotland Yard is to appeal to banks to fund a new “world-leading unit” to tackle the surge in cyber crime.

Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe today announced plans to divert hundreds of detectives to the fight against internet criminals.

The Yard chief said that “traditional” policing of cyber crime had failed and that thousands of victims of internet crime who report an offence never speak to a police officer. He said that, in 2014, the Met would deploy 400 detectives in a new squad to fight online crime.

Sir Bernard said he hoped that the cost of the unit would be partly funded by industry. The unit would also tackle the so-called “dark net” where gangs trade in weapons, drugs and child porn.

The action comes amid increasing concern about the threat of cyber crime to UK businesses and institutions.

In September, Met e-crime police swooped on a gang who had allegedly tried to steal more than £1 million from Barclays bank after taking control of the computer system of one of the bank’s branches.

Until recently, Scotland Yard held responsibility for tackling internet crime in England and Wales, but the National Crime Agency has now taken the overall lead. About 50 of the Met’s 80 officers transferred to the NCA team.

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