14 DAY TRIAL // After concluding that cyber criminal activities represent the biggest threat to the country's well-being, UK authorities allocated £30 million ($46 million or €34 million) to the National e-Crime Programme (NeCP).
It seems as results are already showing as after 6 months the first reports revealed that the economy is £140 million ($218 million or €161 million) richer because of the actions of the unit.
Over a 4-year funding period, the Met Police Central e-Crime Unit (PCeU) will try to prevent internet fraud, denial of service attacks, distribution of malware and computer intrusion.
For now, the £504 million ($841million or €623million) harm reduction target seems to be well in reach as for each pound spent, the PceU saved £35 that would have cost the state one way or another.
"In the initial six month period the PCeU, together with its partners in industry and international law enforcement, has excelled in its efforts to meet this substantial commitment and have delivered in excess of £140 million ($218 million or €161 million) of financial harm reduction to the UK economy. We hope to be able to better this result in the future as we expand our national capability," revealed DAC Janet Williams, ACPO eCrime lead for law enforcement.
The best results so far come from Operation Pagode, in which an estimate of £84 million ($130 million or €96 million) were saved because a group that traded ways of committing credit card fraud was apprehended. The e-Crime Unit has made sure they'll not see the light of day for a total of more than 15 years, thus protecting the citizens from being victims to these scammers.
Detective Superintendent Charlie McMurdie, from the Police Central e-Crime Unit added, "The PCeU continues to take action in its continuing efforts to reduce the harm caused to the UK economy and to UK citizens by those making use of the internet to commit crime.
“This initial result is only a small sample of the current investigations and interventions being conducted and whilst providing an investment to return ratio of £1: 35, the figure alone does not capture the other important benefits gleaned from the learning obtained from targeting the higher echelon of cyber criminals that we then share with our partners."