Tories Propose New Cybercrime Unit
Tories Propose New Cybercrime Unit
March 2008 A new police unit to tackle ''cybercrime'' is to be proposed by the Conservatives. David Davis, the shadow home secretary, says a National Cybercrime Unit would be backed up by specialist prosecutors in order to obtain more convictions for offences such as internet violence, hacking and online fraud. The Tories would also appoint a minister in the Home Office to be directly responsible for co-ordinating policy against cybercrime. A report published by the Tories warned that cybercrime is now growing at a faster rate than can be dealt with by the law enforcement agencies. "Cybercrime is a growing and very serious threat to individuals, business and government," Mr Davis said last night. ''It is a problem that will continue to escalate as technology changes." The Tories' report called for a review of existing legislation ''to ensure that it provides effective sanctions and offences to deal with developing cybercrimes". New laws could include an obligation on financial service companies to report all malicious security incidents that affect their computer systems. In addition, companies that hold personal data on individuals would be required to report any suspected incidents of hacking into their systems. The report continued: "We would create an offence of reckless handling of personal data by government, making it an offence for a Crown Servant or a government contractor to lose personal data from their control. "The public also needs to be confident that appropriate measures are being taken regarding the posting of images which incite abuse, violence and race hate crime," it added. Philip Johnston
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