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Identity theft 'action needed'

The shadow home secretary is set to call for the Government needs to move "into the 21st century" and do more to tackle online crime. In her speech Yvette Cooper will announce plans for the creation of a specific offence of identity theft.

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Cooper: 'It is time to act' on online crime

Yvette Copper is expected to issue a direct challenge to Home Secretary Theresa May later today when she calls on the Government to act over online crime.

The shadow home secretary is expected to tell the Labour conference:

We live our lives online now - but criminals know that too. It's a big risk for business - online trade should be a big area for economic growth and it's a big cost for all of us.

When the credit card companies and banks write off so much fraud we all lose out from higher charges. The problem is escalating by the day.

The police don't have the skills, the equipment or the structures to cope. Families are already facing pressure and they will have to pay an ever higher price.

It's time Theresa May did something about it. It's time the Government moved into the 21st century and started to act.

Cooper: Government 'needs to tackle cyber crime'

The shadow home secretary is set to call for the Government needs to move "into the 21st century" and do more to tackle online crime.

The shadow home secretary is set to call for the Government needs to move "into the 21st century" and do more to tackle online crime. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

In her closing speech to the Labour Party Conference, Yvette Cooper will announce plans for the creation of a specific offence of identity theft and FraudWatch - a new industry-backed body to counter scams and fraudsters online.

Ms Cooper's speech comes after a host of high-profile cases of alleged cyber crime.

Two men appeared in court over the weekend accused of setting up a system to siphon off cash from accounts after gaining access to a Barclays branch computer in London using a planted keyboard video mouse.

Another two men appeared charged with credit card fraud linked to up-market retailer Selfridges.Another four men were charged over an attempt to take control of computers at a Santander bank branch to steal millions of pounds.

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