GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl has made tackling cyber crime a priority in the county.

Mr Surl highlighted national concerns around the police's capability to deal with online crime during a recent conference on cyber crime.

"Cyber crime is a real problem for many people right across the country and the policing service needs to make sure it is equipped to deal with it," he said. "This is why I asked people in Gloucestershire if they felt it should be considered a priority for me and without doubt, they agreed.

"As a result, I have made it one of the priorities in our Police and Crime Plan. I know the Constabulary is working hard to develop a coordinated response to a many layered problem and this additional funding will help it achieve this."

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Berry, of Gloucestershire Police, said: "Cyber crime is a growing problem that covers a huge spectrum of issues from cyber bulling and online fraud to global attacks on our infrastructure.

"It’s a subject the police are working nationally to addresses and in Gloucestershire we welcome the introduction of the sixth priority in our Police and Crime plan.

"Work has also been underway for many months to establish our long term plans to tackle the problem and this forms a corner stone for the work on our sixth priority. Cyber crime is a real issue and we want to ensure people in Gloucestershire are not left vulnerable to these criminals."