Cybercops get a lesson in crime fighting

A consortium of leading IT companies has released a video to show police organisations how technology can be used to fight crime and terrorism more effectively.

The E-Justice Collaboration is made up of six companies: Advantage Business Group, Baltimore Technology, EDS, Microsoft, Petards Emergency Services and Symbol Technologies.

In the wake of 11 September, law enforcement agencies such as the National High-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) have come under increasing pressure to use more sophisticated methods to speed up policing.

Rob Reeve from EDS's police systems division said: "Policing is coming under intense scrutiny and better results are being demanded for less money. This collaboration sharpens the police's ability to use information technology."

He said the use of IT varied greatly between the UK's 43 police forces but claimed a lot did not use it as well as they might.

"The idea is to ensure the best use of data to police terrorist activity. It happens so quickly and then the terrorists are away yet most the police don't always have the technology to act just as quickly."