Home secretary Priti Patel is seeking views on how to reduce the hacking of online accounts and personal data in the UK.

According to the Home Office, it is estimated that over 1.6 million cyber offences were committed in the UK last year, costing taxpayers billions of pounds.

The public consultation is focusing on the authentication of online identities, including password login details, and how personal data is protected in online accounts.

“We are determined to drive down cybercrime but also understand the kind of additional steps businesses and individuals need to take to protect their online accounts in the first place,” said Patel. “This needs to be a collective effort - working together with law enforcement, industry and the public to make the UK the safest place to be online.”

The government department said that the consultation seeks views on how to reduce the burden on people for their cyber security and encourage organisations to further protect their customers’ accounts and personal data.

“The NPCC National Cybercrime Programme has been working closely with private industry to raise awareness and provide tools to encourage better protection for businesses and their customers against cybercrime, however, in the face of rapid technological advances that can be exploited by criminals, there is always more to be done," said Nik Adams, commander for economic and cyber crime at the City of London Police. “This is an important piece of work to understand what additional steps industry can take to better protect members of the public and their personal data, which will help shape how we lead work across policing to support them and work together to keep the public safe.”

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