Government announces £15m pledge to boost cyber security in the Commonwealth

Prime Minister Theresa May has unveiled plans to pledge up to £15m to help Commonwealth countries strengthen their cyber security capabilities and help to tackle criminal groups who pose a global threat to security, including in the UK.

The Prime Minister announced the package on the eve of the formal Heads of Government Meeting where leaders agreed on the ‘Commonwealth Cyber Declaration’, the world’s largest inter-governmental commitment on cyber security cooperation.

The declaration aims to “commit members to raising national levels of cyber security and increased cooperation to counter those who seek to undermine our values, security, even the integrity of elections.”

The new funding will support Commonwealth partners as they prevent and respond to cyber security risks affecting governments, businesses and citizens.

£5.5m of the funding will enable low and middle income Commonwealth members to carry out national cyber security capacity reviews before the next CHOGM in 2020. It will help provide technical assistance, training and advice to address a wide range of cyber security and cyber crime threats

This announcement comes as the Prime Minister will today join Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau for an intelligence partners meeting.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “The future is at the heart of the Commonwealth events being held this week and with that, we must look towards the emerging challenges that we and our Commonwealth partners face. Cyber security affects us all, as online crime does not respect international borders.

“I have called on Commonwealth leaders to take action and to work collectively to tackle this threat. Our package of funding will enable members to review their cyber security capability, and deliver the stability and resilience that we all need to stay safe online and grow our digital economies.

“The Commonwealth plays a pivotal role in shaping the future for many of its members. We have put security on the agenda for the first time so we can work together and build a safer future both for Britain, and for the 2.4 billion people around the world who live in the Commonwealth.”

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