Government pledges £100,000 to fight international cyber crime

Foreign secretary William Hague has pledged £100,000 of government money to the fight against international cybercrime.

The money will go to the Council of Europe's Global Project on Cybercrime, which is aimed at supporting the implementation of the Budapest Convention on cybercrime and related standards and practices.

The main objective of the Budapest Convention is to homogenise cyber criminal policy and legislation internationally, and foster greater global co-operation on the issue.

Hague drew reference to last year's London Conference on Cyberspace, which was designed to improve international collaboration between law enforcement agencies.

"At the London Conference on Cyberspace I made clear that the rapid rise of cybercrime is a growing threat to people across the world and I made clear the need for co-ordinated response to improve security, enhance cooperation between states and ensure a collective undertaking to address this threat.

"I am therefore delighted that the UK will be supporting the Council of Europe Global Project on Cybercrime to further implementation of the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.

"This will bring real benefits - including by working together with entrepreneurs and companies whose innovation is as crucial to the future as it has been to our past."

A government spokesperson added that the money will be used to set up regional workshops and other training initiatives.

"The UK's contribution of £100,000 will help fund international regional workshops and other activities to strengthen legislation, train law enforcement agencies and judiciary, promote public-private cooperation and international cooperation."

Some dissenting voices at Hague's conference last year claimed that the calls for international collaboration are too little, and too late.