Crime of the Week: Cyber Attacks

This week, the Office of National Statistics claims cybercrime to be the most common offence. The new statistics the obsever would publish on Thursday will include cybercrime statistics, which studies show to be at towering levels.

The ONS information showed the number of cyber crimes is from between three and four million yearly. They estimate England and Wales to have the highest number of offences, estimated at 6.8 million.

Compared with industry estimates, the impact could be bigger. Cybercrime could triple as their observation from the previous year reached 12.5 million online offences.

Among those involved are identity theft, "phishing", electronic computer attacks using viruses and malicious software.

One police source conceded this figure will soar when new data emerges on Thursday.

“There are already estimates that the addition of cybercrime will add three to four million offences to the total but it could be much higher than that,” said the source.

“It’s possible it will double, or more.

“There will certainly be a significant increase in crime.”

He added: “Many in the police have said for a long time that traditional crime like burglary have been in steep decline because criminals are going online.

“Finally, the official figures will be recognising that changing pattern.”