Welcome to the Avon and Somerset Constabulary Hi-Tech Crime Unit web page. The Hi-Tech Crime Unit was established in 2001 and forms part of the Public Protection Unit. The Hi-Tech Crime Unit deals with all requests for forensic examinations of computer systems and IT equipment and leads in investigations of offences committed against computer systems. The Unit works in partnership with district officers to investigate traditional crimes that have a hi-tech element.

Hi-Tech Crime encompasses a variety of criminal activities contained in two broad categories:

• New Crimes, New Tools - For example, hacking and denial of service attacks committed against an Information Technology (IT) system which cannot be committed in any other way or against any other type of victim.
• Old Crimes, New Tools - For example, fraud, identity theft, stalking and harassment, committed against the person and using IT to do it.

The global nature of the Internet means that many offences are reported that relate to crimes committed outside of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary force area. These crimes will always be complicated by questions of jurisdiction and ownership. Laws in relation to hi-tech crime vary from country to country and the Hi-Tech Crime Unit have no power to investigate or commence investigations directly against criminal material on IT systems in other countries or against criminals operating in other countries.

Combating the global problems of Internet crime such as the distribution of indecent images of children, race hate crime and threats to computer systems relies on co-operation between the law enforcement agencies around the world.

The following are links to, and brief descriptions of, organisations that have responsibilities on a national level:-

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children. That means we are part of UK policing and very much about tracking and bringing offenders to account either directly or in partnership with local and international forces. More details can be found on their web site. www.ceop.gov.uk

Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA)

SOCA tackles serious organised crime that harms the UK and our citizens. This includes Class A drugs, people smuggling and human trafficking, major gun crime, fraud, computer crime and money laundering. More details can be found on their web site. www.soca.gov.uk/protecting-yourself

Police Central e-crime Unit (PceU)

Electronic crime is a growing phenomenon of the twenty first century and has the potential to affect us all. This Unit will provide a law enforcement solution and work towards limiting the impact of this crime on society. They continue to work closely with the Home Office, City of London Police and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to address e-Crime issues. More details can be found on their web site. www.met.police.uk/pceu