Met cyber crime £1 million boost slashed

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The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has confirmed that the Police Central e-crime Unit (PCeU) will not be getting the planned £1 million boost from the Home Office next year.

Following the coalition Government’s £6 billion deficit reduction plans, funding for the Met’s cyber crime fighting service will remain at the same £1.3 million per year level as is being given to the PCeU in 2009/10.

The MPS told IT PRO that an extra £800,000 is being committed from its budget to “targeting the e-crime threat”, although it did not specify where this money would be going directly.

The scheduled boost in funding from the Home Office was to go on “providing essential training and crucial IT infrastructure” in the PCeU, as well as improving the Association of Chief Police Officers’ “national mainstream law enforcement capability” in tackling online crime.

“Without this additional funding the growth of our capability will be restricted, however we remain committed to our existing work in this area at current funding levels,” the MPS said.

Since its launch in 2008 PCeU has had “considerable success in reducing the harm caused by e-crime to the UK”, the Met said, particularly through work with industry partners and the establishment of the UK Virtual Task Force.

“Further partnership engagement, with the sharing of knowledge and experience will be crucial in maintaining this capability in the coming year and tackling the growing threat of cyber crime,” the MPS added.

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