A SPECIAL unit which helps to tackle high-tech crime in North Yorkshire and elsewhere in the country has celebrated its first anniversary.

The Digital Evidence Recovery and Internet Crime Unit, which is part of North Yorkshire County Council's trading standards department, has just completed its hundredth investigation.

Over these inquiries, the unit, dubbed DERIC, has examined 158 computers, analysed more than 5,500 gigabytes of data - the equivalent of 4,000 million A4 pages of text - as well as retrieving evidence from mobile phones and websites.

It has worked for different local authority organisations from across the country and helped to uncover a wide range of criminal activities from benefit, consumer and businesses frauds to the illegal sale of pornography.

Forensic experts from the unit can carry out forensic examination of computers, mobile phones and other digital equipment, such as cameras and personal organisers.

They can also provide advice to trading standards officers on a range of investigations to trading standards officers, including seizure of computers, Internet investigations and the examination of computers for false descriptions.

Coun John Dennis, the county council's executive member with responsibility for trading standards, said: "The creation of the DERIC laboratory was a bold step, helped by funding from the Department of Trade and Industry. I'm delighted to see that within the first year of operation the unit has already undertaken a wide range of vital work. This has helped trading standards services and other regulators combat the increasingly sophisticated criminals who prey on consumers and legitimate businesses."

Updated: 08:44 Tuesday, March 18, 2003