Police are implementing a multi-pronged strategy to deal with the increasing trend of cybercrime, said top police on Friday at the second phase of the cybercrime training programme of the Odisha police which commenced here on Friday.
The programme aims at creating a pool of trained cyber experts who can deal with any kind of cybercrime cases. A total of 200 police officers and men from all districts of the State would be imparted extensive training by experts from outside the State.
This three-phased programme is being organised by the Odisha police in collaboration with UNICEF.
The main focus of the training programme is cyber offences against children, especially girls. The first phase of this training programme was conducted at Bhubaneswar in June 2019.
“We have already established four territorial Cyber PSs in the State at Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Berhampur along with one cyber cell at each district headquarters. Similarly, a proposal has been sent for the establishment of additional three Cyber PSs at Koraput, Baleswar and Bhubaneswar,” the officials said.
“At the same time, we have an action plan in place to create a pool of cyber investigators based at district and local PS level. We have identified 200 officers in the rank of SI to Inspectors who with proper training can deal with the cybercrime cases at the local level,” they added.
“We have designed the three-phase training programme in association with the UNICEF to impart necessary professional skills so that they are capable enough to handle these cases at their level,” they added. “Community awareness is the most vital part in preventing the occurrence of these cases. Various instructions have been imparted to field units for spreading massive awareness in the community. The Odisha police are contemplating to launch a cyber awareness week across the State. In this campaign intensive efforts would be made to reach maximum people across the length and breadth of the State,” the officials said.
“It would involve various stakeholders including community organisations, students, teachers, bank and other associations. Social media platforms would also be effectively used to generate maximum impact across the different cross sections of the society,” they added.
Steps are being taken to modernise cyber forensics infrastructure. The work of the cyber forensic laboratory cum training centre with modern and advanced equipment is at advanced stage in Bhubaneswar. Cyber forensic consultants would be engaged to impart regular and continuous training. Police officers are being deputed to attend advanced courses on cyber crime across the country and abroad, the officials said.
Crime Branch ADG SK Upadhyay, IG Arun Bothra and SP Sandeep Madkar were among others present.
