Protective services move to combat computer criminals

WHILE admitting that they are not up to par in terms of dealing with computer crime when compared to more advanced countries, Police Commissioner Everald Snaggs boasted that the TT Protective Services are one step closer to fighting computer crime and the related agencies will continue to strive for more training to combat this new high-tech crime. This view was supported by Minister of National Security Senator Martin Joseph and Canadian High Commissioner Simon Wade. “This is another milestone in the continuing progress of TT Police Service.

Indeed, we must keep within the step of changing times. We must develop our people to the best of their ability. “It is clear to us that one of the most influential and significant inventions of the 21st century was the computer and in the past decade computer crimes and the use of computer in the commission of other crimes has increased by tremendous proportions. Investigating computer crimes and crime scene computers present new challenges to security personnel and law enforcement officials.

The technical aspect of these crimes requires a person to have a basic knowledge of computers and computer network. They must also have a knowledge of how these crimes are committed, the motivation of computer criminals and the techniques required to conduct a computer crime investigation. “Surprisingly, that idea might have seemed absurd only 20 years ago. As the computer evolved and the internet grows, so too will computer crimes continue to grow and the need for investigators to understand the dynamics of these crimes and the techniques of these investigations will become increasingly important. Some computer crimes, such as unauthorised access to a computer, specifics to the online world, fraud and many others, are coming in from the real world.

“In either case, because of the invisibility and anonymity of perpetrators, there are problems in enforcing laws. Evidence, of course, is the question of identification, capturing and prosecuting criminals. Criminal investigators assigned to traditional investigations should have a basic knowledge of how computers are used to facilitate these criminal activities. The CoP made these statements at the Police Administration Building yesterday, where 12 persons including police, Coast Guard and Defence Force officials and a civilian were awarded certificates of participation in the one week basic Digital Forensic Investigation course. The course was a coordination of the TT Defence Force and the Canadian Defence Force.

“The danger in dealing with digital evidence is that ignorance will lead to evidence being overlooked or rendered legally useless. There is an investigative component for the electronic crimes and laboratory component for digital evidence associated with these crimes. It is in this respect that this course was organised with the facilitators of the Canadian government. “What I want is at the end of this programme you participants  be more informed on the value of computer crimes.”

The CoP, however, had no statistics on how many crimes have been committed for the year or if there was need for more legislation to deal with the increasing incidents. He did however add that within the confines of the law his officers are charging people and with the recently completed course they are one step closer to dealing with computer crime and will soon be going in increased training within the field.