Computer crime

The Computer Crime Unit at New Scotland Yard was formed in 1984. It is the only dedicated unit in the United Kingdom and has certain national responsibilities including liaison with telecommunication organisations, training, network crimes abroad, virus collation and coordination of major enquiries. It was one of the first active and dedicated units to be formed and its methodologies have become models for organisation and techniques for similar units being formed in other countries. Most of the developed countries have now formed, or are in the process of forming computer crime units. They fall within the umbrella of The Interpol Computer Crime Committee which distributes new methodologies, enhances cross border investigations and runs training courses. These courses fall into two categories-basic and advanced; the former concentrating on technology and evidence recovery, the latter on network crimes and virus distribution.