header-logo header-logo

12 February 2016 / Rebecca Dix
Issue: 7686 / Categories: Features , Profession , Criminal
printer mail-detail

Beyond reach?

nlj_7686_dix

Rebecca Dix reports on government attempts to tackle escalating cyber-crime

When a person or organisation has been a victim of online crime the responsibility falls to the enforcement agencies to act appropriately. The current investigatory laws available to the enforcement agencies lie within various statutes made over the last 19 years. These include the: Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; Police Act 1997; Justice and Security Act 2013 and the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act 2014 (DRIPA 2014).

DRIPA 2014 was an emergency statute made as a consequence of a declaration of invalidity made by the Court of Justice of the European Union in relation to Directive 2006/ 24/EC—the Directive that governs the retention of data generated or processed in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or of public communications networks.

Some of the key elements of DRIPA seek to address the retention of certain communications data and the grounds for issuing interception warrants. With it being a temporary measure the shelf life of DRIPA 2014 expires on 31 December

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

back-to-top-scroll