The Government will opt into a European Union directive aimed at taking action against cyber criminals operating overseas, junior home office minister James Brokenshire has said. The EU Directive on Attacks Against Information Systems will allow British police to work more closely with agencies abroad to identify suspects, gather evidence and bring criminals to justice, he told MPs.

The directive will ensure a basic set of agreed minimum rules on online crimes and penalties that EU states must build into their legislation, ensuring that countries respond quickly to overseas requests for help in cyber crime cases.

Making a statement in the Commons, Mr Brokenshire said: "It fits with our approach of making Britain a tougher place for online criminals to operate in and it will mean that the reach of our law enforcement agencies extends outside our borders."

The directive builds on an existing 2005 EU Framework Decision with which Britain was already compliant. The decision to opt in was welcomed by shadow home office minister Diana Johnson.