HC Deb 23 March 2004 vol 419 c791W
Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the financial cost to(a) the UK and (b) the regions of the misuse of information technology systems in the last 12 months; [162416]

(2) what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of misuse of information technology systems; and if he will make a statement. [162417]

Caroline Flint

There are no centrally aggregated figures of the financial cost to either the UK or the regions resulting from the misuse of information technology. There are a number of surveys and reports which seek to provide an estimate of the financial cost of such incidences, although these surveys are usually limited to a small sample of businesses and provide mainly subjective assumptions of financial loss. The government e-crime strategy will seek to bring together existing information in this area and consider the next steps to providing an accurate picture of the harm caused by computer related offences.

There are a variety of measures which the government is taking to reduce the criminal misuse of computer systems.

We have set up the National Hi Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) as part of the National Crime Squad to combat national and transnational hi-tech crime within or which impacts upon the UK. The Unit, together with the specialist units within local forces which also deal with hi-tech crime investigations, have established good international links with overseas industry and law enforcement, necessary to follow the evidence trail to discover and prosecute the perpetrators of offences committed against computer systems or facilitated by the misuse of technology.

We continue to keep all legislation which pertains to offences which can be committed by utilising information technology under review to ensure that developments in technology do not prevent law enforcement from being able to use legislative provisions to effectively investigate and prosecute computer related offences.

The government e-crime strategy currently being developed will look to provide a framework for Government, law enforcement and industry action in response to all crimes which can be committed through the misuse of technology. It will outline current legislation, policy and practice, as well as advancing and informing the debate on longer-term issues.