The advent of the world wide web and information superhighway has generated a new breed of criminals. Telegraph & Argus reporter Joanne Earp takes a closer look at Internet crime.

YOU DON'T have to be a computer whizzkid to tap into the user-friendly Internet and take advantage of the global resources on offer.

But just as millions of people are using the world wide web, others are choosing to abuse it.

Recent court cases in our district in which computer technology played a part include that of 20-year-old Greek student Eleftherios Karasoulis, who last month admitted downloading 7,000 indecent pictures of children, using Internet links at Bradford University.

In March, Britain's first E-mail stalker, Nigel Harris, was given a two year conditional discharge for sending a torrent of hate mail on the Internet to the daughter of Bradford businessman John Dawson.

And earlier this week Bingley businessman Colin Gaines was fined £1,000 after being found guilty of one charge of possessing an indecent image of two naked boys on the hard drive of his computer.

Detective Superintendent Stuart Hyde, of Bradford Police, said: "There is no doubt that Internet crime is growing. It's easier to access nowadays and you don't have to be a computer expert because it's all so user-friendly.

"In the UK we don't actually have a category for Internet crime. Currently, there are only a handful of offences reported across the force each week. That may be because people underestimate what we can do about it."

Supt Hyde has just returned from a major law enforcement conference in America, where he delivered a presentation on Internet crime.

Common offences include E-mail stalking, the downloading and distribution of paedophilic images and computer credit card scams.

Supt Hyde said: "A popular con trick involves posting information on the Net which suggests there are huge profits to be made in buying certain shares or investing in business opportunities. They turn out to be either fake or based on weak stock.

"Downloading of indecent images and pornography is also common and the main problem we have is establishing where offences have taken place. But we've got to keep it in perspective. If you look at the 40,000 news groups on offer only 150 or so are related to the sex industry."

Supt Hyde followed up his presentation to delegates in America with a seminar to police in West Yorkshire this month.

"We're trying to ensure officers in West Yorkshire are at least able to acknowledge that there is crime on the Internet and that the volume of incidents will increase as more people go on line. Some criminal elements have access to far better equipment and technology than law enforcement officers.''

Ideally West Yorkshire Police would like to have the resources to set up hi-tech crime units similar to those used by their American counterparts to track down hackers, monitor the E-mail system and crack down on the proliferation of paedophilic images.

Ironically, the main weapon used by US police in tackling hi-tech crime is the Internet itself. One example is the FBI web site which contains a host of information, from crime statistics and contact agencies to dossiers on the top ten most wanted fugitives.

It receives around six million hits a year, making it the most popular law enforcement site in the world. Supt Hyde said: "I would like to see West Yorkshire Police involved in something similar.

"As with all other offences, the majority of our work in tackling computer crime is based around information received from members of the public. If we can make better use of Internet facilities we can improve communications with the public."

The Internet Watch Foundation provides support to the police and acts as a contact point. Anyone concerned about material on the Internet can contact the IWF 24-hour hotline on 0845 600 8844.

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