Managing crime and other incidents that involve technology is the responsibility of all law enforcement services. It is vital that law enforcement is able to keep pace with the changing patterns of criminality.

Any officer, regardless of length of service, may be a 'first responder' at a digital crime scene. We have worked in collaboration with the National Centre for Applied Learning Technologies (NCALT) to develop an e-learning training module on high-tech crime.

What is the First Responder E-Learning Programme?

This e-learning training module provides a background to high-tech crime. It explains the operation of the Internet, its services, its use by criminals and how law enforcement bodies can effectively deal with this.

How do I complete the programme?

The programme is hosted on the NCALT portal and can be accessed via the Internet from any computer once you have registered.

What does the programme include?

The programme features an introduction followed by five short chapters:

• Overview of high-tech crime
• What is the Internet?
• High-tech crime on the Internet
• Digital evidence
• High-tech devices.

Students must progress through the chapters in sequence and successfully complete a knowledge check at the end of each chapter before moving on to the next one.

Who is the programme for?

It is aimed at police staff who carry out investigations, interview victims, witnesses or suspects or conduct searches and could at any time encounter electronic devices that contain evidence crucial to an investigation.

The course equips first responders with a basic level of knowledge and the skills to handle situations where they are required to deal with the victims of high-tech crime or preserve a high-tech crime scene.

If you would like more information about the programme, please contact the team either by phone or e-mail.