Reigate and Banstead MP Crispin Blunt has been out in Washington to help set up a framework to defeat cyber warfare and cyber terrorism.

Mr Blunt, shadow minister for home affairs and counter terrorismn,went there to work on an international legal framework on cyber warfare with US policy makers and academics.

Among others, he met White House and State Department officials.

Cyber warfare involves attacks on vital computer networks involved in defence, infrastructure and running essential services.

A recent report says that politically motivated cyber attacks have increased and five countries - the United States, Russia, France, Israel and China – are now armed with cyber weapons.

Before leaving for Washington Mr Blunt said: “We have seen an increase in the use of cyber warfare by states in recent years and are aware of the development of offensive cyber weapons capability by a growing number of states.

"This necessitates an urgent response from the international community, which must think through and set out the rules of the ‘game’ before it is too late.”

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