JUSTICE and Home Affairs Commissioner Antonio Vitorino and information
society chief Erkki Liikanen are joining forces to
draft an EU-wide action plan to combat online crime. The move comes
amid growing concern that
criminals across the Union are turning their back on traditional methods,
taking advantage of the anonymity of the Internet and e-mail to launder
cash, run illegal child pornography rings and steal credit card numbers
from online shoppers. Thwarting online crime is notoriously difficult.
Computer servers can be quickly moved between countries and police
forces and law enforcement agencies acknowledge that they must start working
together to solve cases. Commission insiders say officials are close to
deciding what legislation is needed to step up the fight against cyber
criminals and are holding talks with member state experts on the issue.
A spokesman for Vitorino said plans to target cyber crime would be linked
to efforts to thwart organised crime in general. He said they would be
included in a general policy paper expected this summer examining the scope
and timetable for action in a raft of justice and home affairs areas, including
EU asylum policy and judicial co-operation. The Commissioner is currently
touring EU capitals to discuss the paper, which was promised at last's
October special justice and home affairs summit in Tampere, but formal
proposals are not expected before the end of this year. These could include
a 'police school' to train officers in methods of identifying and tackling
online crime, plans for greater cooperation among law enforcement agencies
and a "reinforcement" of the role of Interpol. "For the time being Interpol's
role is to exchange information and good practice. It would need to transform
itself into a more effective organisation to get involved in investigations
under the leadership of national police forces," said the spokesman.
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