Government to announce £9m dark web crackdown to tackle paedophiles, drugs and arms dealers

A ‘sickening shopping list of services and products are available’ online, home secretary will warn

Home Secretary Amber Rudd will announce £9m to fight crime on the dark web (AFP/Getty)

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is set to announce £9m to boost the fight against paedophiles, drugs and arms dealers operating in clandestine corners of the internet.

Ms Rudd will use a speech to say increasing crime being carried out on the dark web means law enforcement agencies need additional capacity to tackle the problem.

She will also set out some new funds for fighting illegal online activity at community level, which will see police forces set up cybercrime units in local areas.

In her speech at a cyber security conference in Manchester, the home secretary will outline the government’s crackdown on those who use the anonymity of the dark web for illegal activities such as the selling of firearms, drugs, malware and people.

She will describe the dark web as a “dark and dangerous place where anonymity emboldens people to break the law in the most horrifying of ways”, and a “platform of dangerous crimes and horrific abuse”.

A “sickening shopping list of services and products are available”, the Cabinet minister will warn.

Ms Rudd will say the £9m-plus funding is being provided to “enhance the UK’s specialist law enforcement response”, adding: “They will use this money to help combat the criminals who continually exploit the anonymity of the dark web.”

The funding will form part of £50m allocated by the Home Office to ensure police and prosecutors have the capabilities they need to tackle cybercrime at both a national and regional level during 2018-2019.

According to the Home Office, only 30 per cent of local police forces currently have a cyber capability that reaches the minimum standard.

Ms Rudd will say the £50m of funding “will mean that cybercrimes are investigated thoroughly and police can support local businesses and local victims, providing the advice and care they need”.

She will add: “Whilst criminals plot and hide behind their screens, their actions have real-life consequences for their victims. My own father was the victim of fraud, and I know from personal experience the importance of supporting those who have been victimised through no fault of their own. Now that it’s happening online, it’s happening to even more people.”

The cash boost comes as the Home Secretary seeks to draw a line under a row about police funding earlier this week amid accusations that cuts have contributed to a rise in violent crime.