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[FYI] UK: Cyber crime grows, warns DPP



http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/00000056.html

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                        Cyber crime grows, warns DPP 


                           Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyers
                           must be alert to the
                        dangers of hi-tech Internet crime, the
                        Director of Public Prosecutions told
                        prosecutors at a CPS conference on computer
                        crime last week.
                           Speaking at the London event, David
                           Calvert-Smith warned that
                        computers and the Internet were increasingly
                        being used by `cyber-criminals'. He said: `The
                        Internet... is an unregulated, complex and
                        some would say anarchic environment which does
                        not recognise international boundaries'.
                           Mr Calvert-Smith continued: `The
                           jurisdictional difficulties and the
                        anonymity the Internet offers, provide
                        unprecedented opportunities for the
                        cyber-criminal. It is not only used for
                        conventional crimes such as fraud,
                        drug-dealing and the possession of child
                        pornography, but for organised crime,
                        terrorism and money laundering. New forms of
                        crime have emerged such as `on-line
                        harassment', `cyber-stalking' and hacking'.
                           The CPS had successfully prosecuted a
                           number of cases, in
                        particular in child pornography offences, but
                        it still had much to learn and had to make the
                        best of available expertise, he said. On a
                        more positive note, Mr Calvert-Smith
                        concluded: `The Internet can equally be a
                        friend of law enforcement in tracing criminal
                        activity, as it can be an enemy'.
                           CPS solicitor Baljit Ubhey, who
                           co-organised the conference, said:
                        `The CPS has raised its profile recently in
                        the area of high-tech crime. For example,
                        liaison with outside agencies and government
                        departments on legal issues surrounding
                        computer crime has strengthened. But we need
                        to share best practice and spread knowledge
                        about prosecuting in this unique area
                        throughout the CPS'.

                        Dan Bindman 

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