The first force level dedicated Cyber Crime unit in the South East has been launched by Surrey and Sussex Police, as the threat of crime committed online continues to grow.

As we increasingly become reliant on the internet for our day-to-day tasks, criminals are finding new ways to commit offences – learning to break easy to guess passwords and hack inadequate security systems.

The joint Cyber Crime Unit is based in Haywards Heath and has dedicated officers and staff working solely on investigating offences across both Forces.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Cundy, lead for the Specialist Crime Command, said: "In the digital world a wide range of Cyber Crime is taking place: from individuals who have been the victims of financial scams or identity fraud, to organised crime and child exploitation – the true level of this type of crime is under reported.

"Work is ongoing nationally to fully understand the scale of cyber crime, but meanwhile in Surrey and Sussex we have already recognised that there is a need to urgently increase the capacity and ability of the two Forces to deal with this type of crime, to reduce the risks faced by local people. People now live more of their lives online and criminality is already adapting to exploit this digital environment.”

Around 33 million people use the internet every day with national research showing that the majority of users don't install security software and fail to use complex passwords.

Detective Inspector Andy Haslam, Head of the new Cyber Crime Unit, said: "As well as undertaking investigations and bringing offenders to justice, a big part of our role in the Cyber Crime Unit will be to educate the public more. If we can get people to be safe online it will go a long way to reducing this offending.”

To protect yourself online Surrey Police offers these top 5 tips:

  • Use strong, memorable passwords
  • Install anti-virus software on new devices
  • Check privacy settings on social media
  • Shop safely online – always ensuring to check online retail sites are secure
  • Download software and application patches when prompted.

To find out more go to http://www.surrey.police.uk/keeping-safe/protecting-you-and-your-family/staying-safe-online or http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/support-and-prevention/protect-yourself-from-fraud

If you think you have been a victim of cyber crime you can call 101 or complete the online reporting page on the Surrey Police website at https://my.surrey.police.uk/report/