THE latest weapon in the fight against high-tech crime is to be launched in North Yorkshire next week.

The Digital Evidence Recovery and Internet Crime Unit (DERIC) will help track down internet fraudsters and allow trading standards officers from across the North of England to compile evidence against the criminals.

The new unit, which is based with North Yorkshire's trading standards service in Northallerton, will see specially-trained staff using the new software.

It is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry and established in partnership with the North of England Trading Standards Group, which includes North Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northumberland, Lancashire, West Yorkshire and Durham.

About 40 per cent of the adult population of this country has access to the Internet, and 16 per cent have used it as e-shoppers. Use of the Internet is expected to grow. However, research shows that some consumers are still very reluctant to trust the Internet and are concerned about credit card fraud, and worried about giving out personal information. They do not trust the sites as genuine and do not like not being able to see what they are buying.

DERIC will help the trading standards service and other enforcement agencies to catch up with criminals.

Vital evidence can be recovered by DERIC and key staff will then produce comprehensive expert reports for court. The service offered by DERIC is available to any company or enforcement officer. Gordon Gresty, director of business and community services at North Yorkshire County Council, said that computers feature in many trading standards investigations and criminals are very quick to take advantage of new technology to try and put themselves one step ahead of enforcement agencies.

He said: "Evidence will be able to be recovered from computers and rogue websites traced back to the person responsible for them."

Coun John Dennis, executive member for business and community services, said: "This will be a vital service in giving consumers the confidence to use the Internet.

"This is an exciting venture which underlines our commitment to protect consumers in all of the many market places that are open to them."

The service will be officially launched on Tuesday in Northallerton.

Updated: 09:59 Saturday, March 09, 2002