The first cyber crime unit in the south east has been launched by two police forces to fight increasing pervasive online threats.

The joint unit is the latest example of Surrey and Sussex Police banding together to more efficiently share staff and resources across both areas.

At a meeting in Ewell last week, Surrey’s police and crime commissioner Kevin Hurley said they are working with neighbouring police forces in the face of large funding cuts.

Mr Hurley said: "We are trying to work more and more closely. All of this work is taking out officers and some buildings and some infrastructure without any reduction in what you’re seeing on the street."

He said Surrey Police now shares its police dogs, traffic police, public order capabilities, regional crime squad, counter terrorism team and major investigations team.

But if he had it his way, Mr Hurley would go even further and regionalise all police forces in order to make massive savings.

"I would regionalise all police forces in the country and so doing you take out a fifth of the cost nationally like that," Mr Hurley said, clicking his fingers.