No alternative to boosting police cyber capacity: IGP
Police Chief Urges Stronger Cybercrime Investigation Capacity
Bdbusinessdaily.com – Bangladesh’s police force must rapidly deepen its ability to investigate digital offences as criminals increasingly exploit technology for fraud, theft, harassment and extortion, Inspector General of Police Md Ali Hossain Fakir said on 13 September.
Opening a Training of Trainers programme on cybercrime case investigation at Police Staff College Bangladesh in Mirpur, the IGP said stronger professional skills are essential if law enforcement is to keep pace with changing methods of crime.
“Criminals are misusing technology to commit cyber fraud, online financial crimes, data theft, hacking, online harassment and digital extortion,” he said.
The warning reflects the broad range of harm that can occur online. A cybercrime case may involve money being taken through a digital scam, personal information being accessed without permission, an online account being compromised, or victims being targeted through intimidation and abuse. Such cases can require investigators to understand both the criminal conduct itself and the technical evidence connected to it.
New Technology, New Challenges
Ali Hossain Fakir said emerging tools are reshaping the environment in which police operate. Artificial intelligence, deepfake technology, encrypted communications and cloud computing can create opportunities for legitimate users, but they also present complex challenges for investigators attempting to identify suspects, preserve evidence and understand how an offence was carried out.
Deepfakes can make manipulated audio, images or video appear convincing. Encrypted communication may make it harder to access relevant information during an investigation. Cloud-based services can also mean that digital records are stored or managed through systems beyond a victim’s individual device. These developments underline why cybercrime work requires continual learning rather than one-time training.
The IGP said policing practices must adapt to the expanding cybercrime threat. Modern law enforcement needs stronger investigative capacity, he said, because digital evidence and technology-related offences now demand specialised knowledge alongside traditional investigative skills.
“The knowledge and skills gained through the training must be shared with other investigators. If you effectively train other investigators, the number of cybercrime case investigators in the police force will increase many times over,” he said.
Training Designed to Reach Field Investigators
The 10-day course was arranged by Police Staff College Bangladesh on the initiative of the Training Branch of Police Headquarters. It is structured as a Training of Trainers programme, meaning participating officers are expected not only to build their own capability but also to pass on what they learn to colleagues.
A total of 332 police officers will take part in different phases of the course. After completing the training, they are expected to train field-level investigators who handle cybercrime cases. This approach is intended to extend specialist knowledge more widely across the police force, including among personnel who may be the first to receive complaints from members of the public.
For victims, the quality of an early response can be important. Digital material may include messages, transaction records, account activity, device information or other electronic traces that need to be considered carefully. Investigators who understand the nature of cyber incidents are better placed to recognise what information may be relevant and how a case should move forward.
Need for Regularly Updated Learning
Ali Hossain Fakir called for training programmes of this kind to be held regularly. He also stressed that course materials and training modules should be revised on an ongoing basis, reflecting the speed at which digital tools and criminal techniques can change.
That need for updating is particularly significant in cybercrime investigations. A method used by offenders today can quickly be replaced by a different platform, tool or form of deception. Investigators therefore need both practical technical awareness and the ability to assess new risks as they emerge.
The course places emphasis on two connected goals: improving the technical competence of police officers and preparing them to teach others. A training model that multiplies knowledge through additional instructors can help build a larger pool of investigators capable of dealing with technology-related complaints.
The IGP’s remarks also highlight that combating cybercrime is not limited to responding after an offence occurs. Better-trained personnel can support more informed case handling, help identify patterns in complaints and contribute to a law-enforcement response that is more prepared for the changing digital landscape.
As technology becomes more closely woven into financial activity, communication and everyday life, the ability to investigate offences in the digital sphere will remain a central policing requirement. The Mirpur programme is intended to help officers develop the expertise needed for that task and then carry those skills to investigators working at field level.
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