Cyber Crime week of action

The campaign was launched on Monday, March 2, by the National Crime Agency, who is working with a range of partners, including national and international law enforcement and the tech sector, to respond on a major scale to the most significant cyber-crime threats.

In recent years, a growing number of criminals have turned to using the internet and computers to disrupt IT infrastructure, steal or compromise the integrity of private data, commit fraud, steal people’s identities or to abuse vulnerable people.

Dyfed Powys Police’s specialist Digital and Cyber Crime Unit (DCCU) and key partner Get Safe Online are focussing on the cyber-crime threats affecting people and businesses within Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.

This week, the specialist detectives, high tech forensic investigators, analysts and researchers that form the DCCU will be raising awareness of cyber-crime and working to ensure people have the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves from cyber-crime within the force area.

Detective Sergeant Rob Gravelle, of the DCCU, said: “Cyber-crime is not something that only happens in big cities. It is happening in Dyfed Powys right now and is an increasing problem. The DCCU is a specialist team at Dyfed Powys Police brought together to reduce cyber and cyber-enabled crime. We are a busy unit investigating all manner of digital or cyber-crime ranging from online fraud to child sexual exploitation.

“We are taking part in this Cyber Crime Week of Action to reduce the risk of people becoming victims of cyber-crime by offering them guidance on how to stay safe online and how to report an incident if someone is a victim of cyber-crime.”

To launch the week of action, a series of special assemblies are taking place at comprehensive schools throughout the force area to highlight to teenagers the dangers of ‘sexting’.

There will be a focus on key cyber-crime issues including online child sexual exploitation, cyber bullying, revenge porn and online fraud through social media, training for police officers on investigating cyber-crime as well as a Get Safe Online Live event in Aberystwyth Town Centre on Thursday, March 5.

A pop-up shop will be open in the town centre for shoppers, workers, businesses and visitors to call in and get expert advice from DCCU officers, Get Safe Online staff and Aberystwyth Neighbourhood Policing team.

Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, said: “Get Safe Online is delighted to be working in partnership with Dyfed Powys Police in educating people and businesses on how to avoid becoming a victim of cyber-crime.

“A significant amount of cyber-crime is preventable. We are actively encouraging consumers and businesses to ensure they have the latest security software installed on their computer to browse safely online. By taking basic crime prevention steps people can significantly reduce their chances of becoming a victim of crime online.

“Call in at our Get Safe Online Live event on Thursday for a chat about how we can help you protect yourself from cyber-crime.”

To report suspected offences contact Action Fraud www.actionfraud.police.uk or call police on 101. For more information visit www.cyberstreetwise.com and Get Safe Online www.getsafeonline.org.