Without having to leave his desk at Police HQ in Penrith, DCC Stuart Hyde opened and chaired a conference involving more than 20 of the world's leading lights in the fight against Cyber Crime.

Delegates from as far as Vancouver in Canada, Malaysia and New Zealand logged on to the Policing Cyberspace Conference. In doing so, they took part in debates around internet safety, listened and watched presentations on the prevention of cyber-abuse and the use of new technologies in intelligence gathering, as well as participating in workshops around prevention and training.

Those who took part in the day-long interactive conference were able to log-in through their computers to watch and listen to presentations from a number of expert speakers from across the world. They were also able to ask direct questions to each speaker and each other by either instant messaging them or asking directly using microphones. Web cams allowed most of the delegates and speakers to view each other on screen whilst speakers could give presentations and answer questions from delegates using built-in microphones or through telephone links.

DCC Stuart Hyde, who in his fourth year as President of the Society for the Policing of Cyberspace (POLCYB), a charity which sees law enforcement and industry working together to increase people's personal and professional knowledge of cyber crime issues, said the web event was a great success.

He said: "In this day and age when it is difficult to justify travel web conferencing is a very good alternative way of sharing information quickly and effectively.

"This is the first time I have chaired a web conference online and it worked really well - it is something I would like to do more of in the future. At the touch of a button people around the world from Malaysia, the US, to mainland Europe are able to work together at the same time to share best practice and ideas to find solutions to shared problems. It makes sense - particularly when it comes to the battle against e-crime which is a worldwide problem.  However it would not have been possible without the hard work of the Constabulary's dedicated IT Department and I would like to thank them personally for ensuring the event ran smoothly.

"I am committed to finding effective ways of communicating and sharing information and the use of web technology is of paramount importance in this both now and in the future."

The conference was run by Sierra Systems and Webex which enabled the Constabulary to have a call conference using the internet without having to own all the technology.