The IT industry and law enforcement agencies need a new, united
approach to tackle e-crime, according to the parliamentary lobby
group Eurim.
Philip Virgo, secretary general of Eurim, which tomorrow is
launching a briefing paper on the problem, told CW360.com that
e-crime is scarcely punished. He added: "Fear of e-crime is a
showstopper, It costs money and jobs."
The Eurim document spells out the scale of the problem: "If a
supermarket is burned down the police investigate and the judge
will be severe. If an e-business is similarly destroyed, the police
rarely afford it the same attention and experience."
"If business collects evidence the Crown Prosecution Service will
show considerable caution in pursuing the case," the Eurim paper
continues. "If it does the judge may well give only a trivial
sentence because nothing tangible was actually stolen."
Virgo highlighted the confusion about e-crime: "When something goes
wrong it is hard to determine if the problem was a software bug,
human error, misuse or criminal activity," he said.
The Eurim initiative is aimed at building partnerships between
heads of security in the private sector, law enforcement
professionals and suppliers to raise the level of interest in IT
security and the skills available.
Virgo hopes it will also help clarify the sort of legislative
changes needed to protect business against e-crime.
"Any rush to create new primary legislation is likely to be
counter-productive," the Eurim document states. "Greater
cooperation is needed between all stakeholders to develop a common
strategic approach to e-crime, to create a coherent legal
environment and to make better use of scarce resources."
Eurim recommendations include:
1. The Home Office to co-ordinate constructive dialogue
between all stakeholders.
2. The Law Commission to review existing UK legislation to
establish that changes are needed as a matter of priority to ensure
that e-crimes can be prosecuted effectively.
3. The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit to build on its work with
industry.
4. The Home Office to encourage direct industry involvement
in the development of global initiatives to fight e-crime.