Not a single member of the UK’s largest group of IT security professionals believes the country is adequately equipped to deal with electronic crime.

And nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) members believe the current situation is wholly inadequate.

The results are a strong message to the government, said ISSA president Geoff Harris.

“As increasing numbers of the criminal fraternity become aware of the weakness in UK law enforcement capability, the gap between safe online e-commerce and e-crime will continue to spiral out of control,” he said.

In April 2006, the former National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) was absorbed by the newly created Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).

Soca claims that staffing levels and commitment to tackling e-crime have remained the same, but businesses have been highly critical of the organisation’s lack of performance.

What was once a strong area of law enforcement has been allowed to crumble, according to Harris.

“During the dot com era, UK police pioneered world-class technical expertise and focus to investigate e-crime,” he said.

“It is a great shame that what we once had, we have now lost.”