High-tech crime unit scared of hackers

The police National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) has admitted it is scared of going online because the website will be an obvious target for hackers.

The NHTCU's website will be launched imminently but it is currently undergoing strenuous testing to ensure there are no security holes that would embarrass the unit.

"We will be an obvious target for hackers so we have to make sure it is absolutely secure," said a spokeswoman for the NHTCU.

The crime unit was backed by £25m of government funding at its launch in April this year, and has admitted that competing with the private sector for skilled staff had proved difficult.

But the NHTCU has now filled its 43 posts and is working on live operations after moving to new offices in London Docklands, said the spokeswoman.

"The unit is fully staffed and is involved in a number of operations covering an array of criminal services. Because of the involved nature of the investigations, they will take 12-18 months to come to fruition," she said.

Officers are working on "under ten" cases and one is expected to deliver a prosecution "just before or just after Christmas," she said.

One of the main objectives of the unit in its first year of operation is to establish a confidential computer crime reporting system for businesses.

The idea is that law enforcement agencies will be able to get a wider intelligence picture of the types of hi-tech crime being committed, and businesses can report breaches and get police help without any embarrassing public disclosures.

An industry liaison officer has been appointed to oversee the setting up of the system and it is still on target for the first quarter of next year, according to the spokeswoman.

In-depth research by the unit into the level and type of UK hi-tech crime has been completed and is due to be published soon.