Issue - meetings

The Panel was asked to consider the Cyber Crime Strategy and determine whether it would wish to make any comments to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Nationally, cyber crime was recognised as one of the greatest risks facing the Country and was a key element of the Strategic Policing Requirement.  At a Force level the threat from cyber crime was identified in the Alliance Control Strategy as one of the highest risks faced by the Alliance.

In 2016 the Force signed off the Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police Cyber Crime Strategy 2016.  This document set out at a strategic level the 4 P’s (Prevent Pursue, Protect, Prepare) approach that was currently being implemented across the Alliance. 

Shortly after the Strategy was implemented operational requirements led to a number of changes in senior police personnel responsible for the implementation of the Strategy.  On a day to day basis the Force approach to cyber crime was now the responsibility of a Superintendent.

During the discussion, the following main points were made:

·       There were insufficient resources to prevent individuals becoming vulnerable and more work was needed in terms of safeguarding as it was an area which changed and progressed so quickly. The resources that were available however were being spent efficiently working with the alliance and across the region to share expertise. There also needed to a  joined up approach from a national perspective

·       The PCC was confident that they were able to recruit suitably qualified people to deal with cyber crime, he did however suggest that opportunities were arising in this area in a volunteer capacity

·       Cyber crime did have the potential to affect front line services, but the PCC was aware of this and intended to be as efficient as possible and was actively managing it.