In a foreword to the report, Gordon Brown, prime minister, said the government had "invested in new crime fighting technology and brought in new powers to target the criminals and recover their assets".

Whitehall is focusing on the fight against e-crime, admitting that it often leads to identity fraud, which then facilitates the buying of goods and services fraudulently "on an industrial scale".

The , formed last year after extensive campaigning by the police and businesses, is crucial to fighting cybercrime, the report stated. The PCeU is tasked to "develop the overall response to cybercrime" by the police.

The report highlighted a of the PCeU in action. In April, the unit worked with banks to target a group of suspects using a computer virus to help them steal money from personal accounts.

"In a first for a UK e-crime investigation, financial institutions and police worked together to share real time intelligence on criminal activity," it said. "This proactive partnership with industry resulted in what would normally be a six month investigation being concluded within four weeks."