Government to create e-crime centre

The Government has announced plans to create a centre to tackle electronic crime.

The Cyber Security Operations Centre will aim to reduce online risks, improve public knowledge of potential threats, and help businesses and the public capitalise on the opportunities provided by a secure digital network.

Such an approach, the Government believes, will afford businesses using UK networks a "competitive edge in the global marketplace".

The plans were outlined in the UK's first Cyber Security Strategy, in which the Government reiterated its pledge to "make the UK the leading major economy for innovation, investment and quality in the digital and communications industries".

Commenting on the proposals, Gareth Elliott, senior policy adviser at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "Almost three-quarters of companies feel there should be a national body set up to deal with the issue of e-crime, so the establishment of a new Cyber Security Operations Centre is the right move.

"With more companies reporting computer-related fraud and data theft than ever before, the business community is pleased to see the Government giving the issue some serious attention."