Cyber-cops mull new strategy to bag web villains

The police are considering a radical new scheme to allow firms who blow the whistle on cybercrime to get guaranteed anonymity.

The idea, designed to encourage reticent companies to lift the lid on online fraud, could see firms hand over information under legally-binding Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs).

The idea was floated at a private meeting of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) with representatives of the internet industry last week. If realised, the move could go a long way to encourage firms who have so far been shy of reporting crime to the police for fear it would get out in to the public domain.

Tony Neate, technical industry liaison for the NHTCU, said no decisions had been made and stressed the plan was in its early stages.

He said: "At the moment we're looking at feedback from industry to see whether companies would be more willing to give information with these kind of guarantees.

"Getting this information in the first place has to be our absolute priority - we need to know what's happening," he added.

Neate said the NHTCU could even envisage situations where potential prosecutions could be dropped if they endangered information given confidentially to the Police.

He told silicon.com: "We have to show industry we can be trusted on this."

Any such system would have its limitations - legally it could not be applied to more serious crime than fraud, for example anything involving physical harm or child pornography.

However, the move could have a big impact in the area of online fraud. E-tailers are often concerned about the effect on their reputation and their share price if they admit to being the victim of high-tech crimes.

As a consequence, only a fraction of crime is reported. Some estimates say the real amount of web crime is 400 times higher than the reported figure.

Jonathan Armstrong, senior associate at law firm Eversheds, said such a scheme could be beneficial.

He said: "There has always been a certain mistrust between business and the police - anything the police can do to better this relationship has to be welcomed.

Patrick White, chair of the British Web Design and Marketing Association, who co-chaired the industry meeting with the NHTCU, also welcomed the idea.

He told silicon.com: "We welcome all initiatives to give businesses the confidence to report this stuff. Only then can we get round to trying to stop it."