Rudd promises cash for cyber crime units to target dark web criminals
EVERY police force in the UK is to be given funds to set up a cyber crime unit, Amber Rudd will say today, as she announces a crackdown on the dark web. Condemning the “sickening shopping list of services and products” available on the alternative internet or dark web, the Home Secretary vowed to crack down on criminals who use it.
A £50million pot will be allocated to boost law enforcement capabilities amid fears that gangs are using the dark web to sell drugs, weapons and indecent images of children. Speaking at the Cyberuk conference in Manchester, Ms Rudd is expected to say: “The world of cyber is fast-developing and we need a fast-developing response to match.
“One that recognises that it is the responsibility of everyone in the UK to fight the evolving threat. And then there’s the dark web. A dark and dangerous place where anonymity emboldens people to break the law in the most horrifying of ways. A platform of dangerous crimes and horrific abuse.
“A sickening shopping list of services and products are available.” She will reveal plans to develop a new training programme for police so they can spot and tackle the use of the dark web in crimes around the country – including modern slavery.
She will also announce cash for a “cyber app” to help police in London tackle the problem. Vehicles are being stolen from driveways around the country, but research shows wealthier areas just outside the capital and big cities have been hit hardest.
Mr Silvester also warned owners to be careful when handing fobs over to valet parking services or car washes, as keys can be cloned “in seconds”, allowing thieves to take the car at a later date without any external signs of damage.
His force, the West Midlands, has one of the worst car crime rates in the country – a 39 per cent increase between 2015-16 and 2016-17 according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
He told The Telegraph: “This isn’t just unique to more expensive brands, we’ve seen all sorts of cars that have electronic technology on board. It can happen anywhere not just on the drive – a lot of this is software based, we do ask people to be aware of the updates.”
ONS statistics figures show car theft has risen by 30per cent in three years and jumped 20per cent in 2017 alone. Between March 2014 and March 2017, the number of recorded car thefts rose from 70,053 to 91,361.