McMurdie led police calls for a dedicated internet crime unit
Date: March 12, 2008Source: Computerworlduk.com
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The Metropolitan Police’s Covert Policing unit includes surveillance, controlling undercover operations, and providing specialist technology where it is needed to solve crimes.
McMurdie had been the head of the Computer Crime Unit since 2006. In August 2007, she put forward a proposal to the Home Office for £1.3m in funding to set up a dedicated e-crime operation to investigate and tackle online crime, after gaining Metropolitan Police backing earlier that year. The plan included making sure industry supported the unit and worked alongside it.
The proposal quickly gained the support of industry figures and security experts.
The government has not yet responded to the proposal. But a meeting is scheduled for 18 March when Home Office minister Vernon Coaker is due to discuss the ideas with Scotland Yard.
“What we want is an e-crime unit in the middle, tackling the problem,” McMurdie said. “There would be a ‘customer centre’ on one side [where individuals can contact the police about online crime] and on the other side would be police dealing with large scale crimes such as attacks on national infrastructure.”
“There has been overwhelming support from industry and the police including the Association of Chief Police Officers. I think we want to make it happen one way or another.”
Last week, at the launch of the UK Internet Governance Forum in Westminster, McMurdie reiterated calls for the unit, saying: “Internet crime does not sit comfortably around current policing. We need somewhere to set standards on how we report crime and co-ordinate our response, and how we share information.”
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