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Tuesday 4th November 2008

Government failing to fight cybercrime 1:00PM, Tuesday 4th November 2008

The UK government isn't doing enough to prevent cybercrime, according to UK businesses. They're pointing the finger squarely at the government's failure to introduce any coherent, international legislation, and the absence of any suitable deterrents or penalties against cybercriminals, after a recent survey showed that instances cybercrime in the UK is higher than ever.

The survey, carried out by research firm Corporate IT (CIT) Forum, suggests that it has become too easy and too risk-free for criminals to become involved in cyber crime. Although the UK government did set up a specialised body in April to fight cybercrime, the Police Central e-crime Unit (PCeU), the CIT Forum is calling for the government

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to do more to tackle the issue of online crime.

"One of our biggest concerns is about deterrants and penalties," Ollie Ross, head of research at Corporate IT Forum told Computer Shopper. "We're terribly conscious that a lot of the cybercrime committed today is without boundary, outside logical jurisdiction. It's quite clear to us that as this becomes professionalised that the deterrent, the risk of being caught and an appropriate penalty for the crime isn't really consistently being applied."

She said that the organisation wants to embark on a programme of relationship building to try to get a better understanding between government organisations and the victims of cybercrime.

"We've already taken steps in relationship building with different organisations that are involved in this. We're in direct communication with some of the police forces involved and we'll be speaking to the PCeU," she said.

Dawinderpal Sahota

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