Nominet, the national registry for .uk domain names, announces the development of a new service designed to help domain registrars respond quickly to reports of .uk domain names involved in criminal activity.

This service locks domain names by suspending the operation of the name, which means that any web site or email associated with the domain name will no longer be available. Promptly taking the domain name out of circulation in this way helps protect the consumer as quickly as possible.
Available to .uk registrars today, the new service will enable registrars, such as ISPs and Web Hosting companies, to 'lock' or suspend a .uk domain name if they have received credible reports that it is involved in illegal activity.
Eleanor Bradley, Director of Operations at Nominet, comments: "Nominet is committed to making the Internet a safe place for all users. This lock is one of several new services we are offering to help our registrars respond to evidence that .uk domain names are being used for illegal activities. For example, there have been cases recently where consumers are being duped into buying goods from illegitimate web sites. This tool enables the registrar to lock down the domain name to prevent further criminal activity and minimise the impact on UK consumers."