Cybercrime: The new frontier in policing

Taking on cyber criminals on the ‘dark net’ requires new expertise and cross-border laws given that it is too big a battle for any one police force, writes European Correspondent Ann Cahill.

TAKING on cyber criminals is a new frontier in policing — and one that is much too big a battle for any one police force. It is a field that requires new expertise, greater co-operation, and new legislation to uncover the ‘dark net’. It’s also a growing industry, with 2.5bn people having internet access and another 1.5bn expected in the next four years, so the scope for criminality is increasing.

The entry threshold is becoming quite low, with few technical skills needed. There is already a complete underground economy in place, where drugs, weapons, hired killings, child abuse, and stolen payment details are traded.