The value of illegal business software has topped £1 billion in Britain for the first time. Figures released by the Business Software Alliance of leading technology firms shows use of illegal software rising alarmingly in just one year. The City of London police says it plans to crack down on the crime.

Worldwide, software piracy is worth $33bn - up $4bn on last year's figure; 35 per cent of European software is pirated. In Latin America, prevalence of illegal software is put at 66 per cent.