Cops undergo training to handle cybercrimes more effectively
4000 police personnel have been trained at cybercrime workshops conducted by the Mumbai police in association with advocate Pankaj Bafna, an expert in cybercrime. The training programmes were carried out to equip the police force with the skill to handle cybercrime cases at separate cyber cells implemented at every police station in Mumbai.
The training sessions began in December for south, central, western, eastern and northern police regions across Mumbai and were completed last week. Nearly 1600 police personnel were trained in the month of May. Total 4500 police personnel benefitted from this initiative. The workshops were conducted at several venues across the city from morning 9:30 am to 8:30 pm in several phases. The training was conducted at Mumbai police gymkhana (south region), Kala Chowkie zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police office (central region), Thakur College (northern region), Govandi zonal DCP office (eastern region), BandraKurla complex police station (western region) and at Bhayandar police station for Mira-Bhayandar. Constables, Police Inspectors and Senior Police Inspectors from every police station who has volunteered for the programme.
Speaking to the Free Press Journal, advocate Pankaj Bafna said, "I have trained the police force from constables to Senior Police Inspectors regarding how a First Information Report (FIR) is to be registered under the provisions of the Information Technology Act, how to investigate cybercrimes and track cyber criminals who do not have any jurisdiction to conduct crimes. Since there is no jurisdiction, the police do not know how to track their activities and trace them. The police are not aware about how to prepare electronic evidences which will be valid in the court of law under the Indian Evidence Act.
A certificate has to be produced under 65 b of the Evidence Act to prove the genuineness of the document, however, the police do not have any clue about who has to prepare it and how it is be done. The police should also know how to conduct the trial and how to face cross-examination during the trial and the questions related to it. So I would discuss practical scenarios with them based on the cases that they have been dealing with at police stations. "
Advocate Bafna enlightened the police about the credit cards fraud, the provisions under the law and the compensation of victims as per the guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India.
The police personnel were also trained regarding how credit cards fraud cases and email hacking cases should be registered and how banks are also involved in such cases.
"In case of frauds related to banks, it is the duty of the complainant to obtain a certificate from the bank under Section 65b of the Indian Evidence Act. However, the police were not aware about it and they themselves would issue the certificate to the victims which is not valid in the court of law, "added Bafna.
"It is the responsibility of the bank to keep upgrading the softwares every week to prevent skimming of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). However, the banks do not follow the instructions. Instead, it is upgraded every three-four months thereby leading to an increase in ATM skimming cases. In such instances, the police have the right to take the custody of the banker. However, they are not aware about the law," said Bafna.