The National Hi-Tech Crime Unit (NHTCU) says it is making progress in its fight against organised cybercrime.

In the two years since the unit was created, the NHTCU has made more than 100 arrests from over 40 operations. Prosecutions have mainly been in the area of serious online child abuse, but pending operations cover hacking, virus writing, fraud and software cracking.

Crime reduction co-ordinator John Lyons says the unit is working on an increasing number of business-related crimes, including web site spoofing, fraudulent loan applications and high tech forms of extortion, mostly originating in foreign countries.

The unit's increasingly close ties with cybercrime police in other countries is also paying dividends in closing down threats to UK business.

In one incident, a UK company was subjected to three denial of service attacks in a week before receiving an email from abroad demanding £250,000 for the attacks to stop.

After being notified about the problem, the NHTCU traced the origin of the threat and worked with local authorities to close down the offending site.

'It's an example of the service that we can provide local businesses,' said Lyons. 'Most organised crime originates internationally, which means you need a service that can work with authorities overseas to shut down threats.'

An NHTCU operation resulted in the arrest of individuals using computers to fraudulently apply for large numbers of loans from credit agencies. In another case, a spoofed web site passing itself off as a legitimate online business was closed down.

Lyons says the business-friendly approach of the unit is paying dividends, especially since the introduction of its confidentiality charter, which enables companies to report suspicious activity without fear of business disruption.

'All of our units are geared up to make successful prosecutions, while ensuring that commercial operations are not interrupted. We work in as discreet a manner as possible,' said Lyons.

But he adds that more awareness of what the unit can do for local businesses is still needed and urges companies to contact the unit.