HOME Secretary Amber Rudd's allocation of £14million to fight cyber crime and criminals using the 'dark web' has been welcomed by Lancashire's Crime Commissioner.

Clive Grunshaw said a 'sustained national effort' was needed to crackdown on internet offenders.

On Wednesday Ms Rudd announced £9million to tackle criminals who use the 'dark web' to trade in guns, drugs and child abuse images and £5million for dedicated local rand regional cyber crime units.

Commissioner Grunshaw said: “Cybercrime is one of the biggest challenges facing policing and now accounts for over half of all crime committed every day and is set to grow rapidly, so the way we tackle crime has to change.

"This is a welcome start, but a challenge of this scale needs a sustained national effort to take on those using cyber space to commit often extremely serious crimes. There is more to be done to strengthen the links between local forces, regional hubs and national agencies."

He added: “Commissioners and police forces are seeing increased demand up and down the country for a response to cybercrime and we will look forward to working with the Home Secretary and national agencies to ensure a joined up policing response and better protection for the public.”