The first year of theSerious Organised Crime Agency’sexistence has been “a bit turbulent” according to Bill
Hughes, the director general of the agency, which is responsibile
for investigating hi-tech crime.
Hughes, speaking at the
E-crime Congress conference in London, said it
had been difficult to maintain the standards set by the High Tech
Crime Unit, the previous organisation responsible for computer
crime, which sat within the National Crime Squad, part of the
Police Force.
Soca is not part of the Police Force, but an executive
non-department public body, sponsored by the Home Office. It also
encompasses aspects of the National Criminal Intelligence Service
and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Some experts said the move
watered down the government’s efforts to combat high-tech crime
affecting business.
Hughes said: “What’s the first year been like? Like the curate’s
egg; good in parts. Other parts a bit turbulent and putting
together different cultures has not been easy.
“We have been under the cosh to maintain standards. The HTCU set
a 94% of criminal conviction rate; a measure of the quality of
cases they put together.”
However, despite the successful conviction rate of the HTCU,
Hughes said the increasing use of online technologies by
international organised crime gangs meant the law enforcement
response had to change. “It did not achieve the long-term impact
that isneeded. A new approach was necessary.”
Soca could now take advantage of a range of new legislation
designed to combat both high-tech and organised crime as well as
forging international alliances with other crime-fighting
agencies.
Related article:
E-crime policing now part of everyday police
work
Related article:
Met looks to national role in battle against
e-crime
Comment on this article:
computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk