The Conservative Party has announced a range of measures aimed at tackling cyber-crime and tightening data protection in the UK.

Proposals include the creation of a new post of cyber-security minister to combat what the party calls the "growing threat" of online crime.

The appointment is part of a host of initiatives proposed by Shadow Home Secretary David Davis at the E-Crime Congress 2008 in London yesterday.

"Cyber-crime is a growing and serious threat to individuals, business and government," said Davis. "It is a problem that will continue to escalate as technology changes."

The Tories are calling for new offences for civil servants and government contractors who lose personal data, and a new police squad to track down and prosecute cyber-criminals.

The proposed team would be part of the Crown Prosecution Service, working alongside a proposed Police National Cybercrime Unit and acting on leads submitted to a new website for the centralised reporting of internet crimes.

Proposals also include a so-called "breach law" which would force financial institutions to inform the Financial Services Authority in the event of confidential customer data being breached.

The proposals are widely seen as an attempt by the opposition to capitalise on recent personal data debacles at government departments.