People can ask Cumbria police about the work they do to stop cyber crime.
The Cyber Digital Crime Unit, funded by Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Peter McCall, is made up of specialist officers who are specifically trained stop offenders who exploit vulnerable people online.
Since its launch in 2019, the unit’s work often provides integral data for evidence in major investigations and trials.
In the recent investigation into the murder of Carlisle man Lee McKnight, the unit’s complex telephony work was used as a vital piece of evidence to place the offenders at the scene of the crime.
Since the unit’s implementation, it has assisted with 213 cybercrimes and conducted163 investigations into online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
The figures are highlighted today, as part of OP MOVIE 2, to demonstrating the often complex, unseen police work of this specialist unit.
In one of the latest results from cases the unit investigated, on September 28, a man was jailed for two years and six months for child sex offences.
The team is inviting the public to send questions in, via the constabulary’s social media accounts, which will be answered in a live event across on November 25 between noon and 2pm.
Detective Inspector Ian Harwood is head of the Cyber and Digital Crime Unit.
He said: “Our specialist officers continue their proactive work to deal with online offending and to help and safeguard those who are exploited.
“This is a dedicated unit staffed to deal with these type of offences – and I can reassure the people of Cumbria that the team is working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to keep children and other people safe, as well as track down anyone exploiting them.
What does the unit do?
The unit investigates and pursues offenders, as well as helping businesses and people protect themselves from attack.
Crimes tackled by the unit include online child sexual abuse and exploitation crimes such as downloading and distributing indecent images of children, Sexual communication with a child and Arranging and facilitating child sexual offences.
It covers offences such as hacking, digital fraud and online exploitation.
The unit also forensically examines digital devices seized during police investigations.
Behind the scenes, these types of crimes can involve long and complex investigations, including detailed examination of digital equipment.
Offenders often do not live in county boundaries.
DI Harwood added: “Tackling online crime and protecting children and vulnerable adults, including violence against women and girls is of the utmost importance to us.
“The way criminals who look to exploit their victims operate, has developed with the continuous advancement in technology.
“Many of the crimes we deal with are unseen to the public, with offenders using online technology to contact and groom their victims them into sexual or criminal activity.
“This is happening behind closed doors, sometimes invisible to friends and family.
“I would urge people to familiarise themselves with and to monitor what the vulnerable people in their lives are doing online. Ask them questions about their online activity and support them in using the internet confidently and positively”
If you have information on a digital or cybercrime you can report it to police on 101 always dial 999 in an emergency.
You can also report it online via www.cumbria.police.uk.
