Electronic crime is to be included for the first time in the criteria by which local police forces are assessed.

From this week, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) will examine whether forces have investigated the problem of computer-based criminal activity and what reporting structures are in place to focus on it.

The changes are a major step forward and will help establish a co-ordinated national response, according to Sue Wilkinson, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) lead on e-crime.

“We need to get agreement around the country that every force flags these types of activity in the same way.

“By asking these questions HMIC will help us understand which forces have what in place,” she said.

Until now, chief constables have had little motivation to tackle e-crime. One senior officer said that it was not a high priority because it does not put “ticks in boxes”.

And a Computing investigation earlier in the year found that more than half of police forces have five or fewer staff dedicated to the problem.

Police resources are a central issue. Specific budgets for local forces to deal with high-tech crime were abolished last year and relevant skills are patchy.

Adding e-crime to HMIC assessments may help forces gain more funding, according to Lord Erroll, a member of the House of Lords Personal Internet Security Committee.

“It is an excellent move ­ it will help police get a grip on the size of the problem and thus provide a lever to lobby for more funding,” he said.

The committee’s most recent investigation in August identified unacceptable inconsistencies in police service skills.

“Expertise and forensic capability vary from force to force ­ it is vital to raise skills across the board,” said the report.