Tackling cyber crime is a big challenge

The enormity of tackling cyber crime was the subject of conference involving police staff associations across the UK.

Last week I spent a few days across in Ireland attending the event where it was very interesting to hear, and discuss the similar issues across policing and providing a quality service with tight budgets.

What came through loud and clear was the scale of the challenge presented by online crime, from bullying through to international cyber attacks on government websites.

Discussions focussed on how we need to develop our cyber investigation capability quickly and effectively to prevent people, often the most vulnerable in society, becoming victims.

At the other end of the scale, we have seen a few‘bogus workmen’ crimes across the division where it has mainly been elderly victims who are paying vastly inflated sums of money for minor works.

It is important we look after our families and friends when they are vulnerable, take some simple steps to check their money/assets are being protected ,or perhaps look at formal measures to control their finances.

If you get an unsolicited caller at your door, please do check for ID. Look and see if they are in a professionally marked-up vehicle and ask some questions to check their credentials.

If they visit elderly neighbours and not you, ask yourself why this is happening, then either call the police on 101 or check on your neighbour.

I have had some early discussions with the new local senior officer with Scottish Fire and Rescue Service around how we can work more collaboratively to help protect our communities from harm.

Graeme Binning and I have known each other for some time and I look forward to working closely with him.