National Hi-Tech Crime Unit
Encyclopedia
The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) previously formed part of the National Crime Squad
, a British Police organisation which dealt with major crime
.
The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit was created in 2001 as a result of an Association of Chief Police Officers
(ACPO) initiative. The organisation investigated serious and organised crime committed over the Internet, such as hacking
, virus
-writers, internet fraud
and other hi-tech crimes involving the use of computers and telecommunications equipment.
On 1 April 2006, it ceased to exist. However, many of its staff and duties were transferred to the e-crime unit of the UK's new Serious Organised Crime Agency
(SOCA).
National Crime Squad
The National Crime Squad was a British police organisation which dealt mainly with organised and major crimes. Formed in April 1998 after the amalgamation of six former Regional Crime Squads it merged on 1 April 2006 into the Serious Organised Crime Agency. The NCS reported directly to the Home...
, a British Police organisation which dealt with major crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
.
The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit was created in 2001 as a result of an Association of Chief Police Officers
Association of Chief Police Officers
The Association of Chief Police Officers , established in 1948, is a private limited company that leads the development of policing practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.ACPO provides a forum for chief police officers to share ideas and coordinates the strategic...
(ACPO) initiative. The organisation investigated serious and organised crime committed over the Internet, such as hacking
Hacker (computer security)
In computer security and everyday language, a hacker is someone who breaks into computers and computer networks. Hackers may be motivated by a multitude of reasons, including profit, protest, or because of the challenge...
, virus
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
-writers, internet fraud
Internet fraud
Internet fraud refers to the use of Internet services to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected with the scheme....
and other hi-tech crimes involving the use of computers and telecommunications equipment.
On 1 April 2006, it ceased to exist. However, many of its staff and duties were transferred to the e-crime unit of the UK's new Serious Organised Crime Agency
Serious Organised Crime Agency
The Serious Organised Crime Agency is a non-departmental public body of the Government of the United Kingdom under Home Office sponsorship...
(SOCA).