Leader: Technology key to fighting 21st Century crime

It appears the government has finally recognised the importance of a fully integrated elite crime-fighting agency supported by a hi-tech unit in tackling the increasingly sophisticated menace of modern organised crime.

The government's announcement today that it will create an 'FBI-style' Serious Organised Crime Agency by 2006 is an acknowledgement that while the same old smuggling and trafficking crimes may exist, the criminals are several steps ahead of the police – in the UK and worldwide – in utilising technology.

The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit will come under the remit of the new agency and will hopefully provide much needed focus for the unit, which has battled against limited government funding and apathy from the business world in reporting cybercrime.

While the NHTCU may have had its knockers over the last three years it has to be remembered that the UK is widely respected for having one of the most advanced and sophisticated cyber police operations in the world.

The success of the new agency of course will still hinge on the right leadership and the government putting its money where its mouth is and backing the police with the enough funds to tackle both crimes like drug trafficking that may exploit technology to launder the proceeds, as well as cybercrimes that hurt businesses and damage consumer confidence and faith in the internet.