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The term 'global village' is becoming more of a reality every day. The Web has brought the world together in ways that could never have been imagined only decades ago. The Internet does not recognise international borders or differences in domestic laws. We must find ways of working with other countries to ensure co-operation in dealing with international threats and security issues whilst at the same time facilitating international commerce.
Various organisations within the UK Government work closely with a vast number of international organisations in order to ensure that the UK's national information infrastructure is protected.
The Home Office, DTI, CPNI and Cabinet Office have strong links with their international counterparts to exchange information and best practice to mutual benefit. The relationship with United States government organisations such as the Department of Homeland Security and its National Cyber-Security Division is important, not least because of the influence the US Government has over the US IT industry.
The European Information Security Agency (ENISA) was established in March 2004 and the UK Government is working with UK industry to ensure that it is involved in the activities and projects which the agency initiates.
The UK Government works within NATO to influence policy and standards to do with information security and assurance as well as participating in the NATO emergency planning forum. We also continue to participate in G8, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and UN initiatives in order to ensure that UK assets are protected from risks arising from poor information security activities in other countries, maximise UK influence on the international agenda, and improve our expertise in the field through involvement with other leading nations.
The OECD has developed guidelines which promote the need for a greater awareness and understanding of security issues. They focus on the need to develop a 'culture of security' in the development of information systems and networks, and the adoption of new ways of thinking and behaving when using and interacting within information systems and networks.
International co-operation is essential to be able to effectively investigate and combat hi-tech crime. Co-operation is most easy where different legislative systems have common offences which allow for the investigation and prosecution of an offence regardless of the country it may have been committed in or wherever the evidence of an offence may be located. The Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention, signed in November 2001, aims to provide for common definitions and minimum standards for offences concerning a variety of computer and computer-enabled crimes. It also seeks to provide for investigative methods appropriate for the collection of electronic evidence and to define measures to ensure effective international co-operation.
The NHTCU has close working relationships with a range of foreign law enforcement agencies and through an established network of contacts is able to facilitate investigative responses in those regions. On occasions when it is not possible to arrest and convict through criminal proceedings, the NHTCU will seek to lawfully dismantle the infrastructure of the organised crime group involved so that they no longer pose a threat to UK interests.