OSCE helps Ukrainian police be better prepared to fight cybercrime

KYIV, 13 May 2013 – A two-week training-of-trainers’ session on investigation of cybercrime started in Kyiv today with support from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

During the event organized at the request of the Interior Ministry twenty police officers from specialized units from all over Ukraine will learn about investigating various IT-related crimes, such as dissemination of child abuse materials via the Internet, bank and credit card fraud and malware distribution. International experts will provide insights on practical aspects of cybercrime investigation and use of specialized hardware and software tools.

“Cybercrime is a relatively new and dangerous threat to the well-being of individuals and institutions; its effects can be painful and even devastating, while it is often a challenge to detect perpetrators and hold them accountable,” said Rene BeBeau, the PCU’s Senior Project Officer. “We hope that as a result of today’s event Ukrainian law enforcement officers will be in a better position to protect citizens from digital criminals.”

The police officers taking part in this advanced course already received training in November last year. Upon completion, they are expected to be able to transfer the gained knowledge to their colleagues on the ground.

Today’s event is part of larger assistance provided by the OSCE PCU to the Interior Ministry to increase its anti-cybercrime capacities. Previous activities included an extensive needs assessment and donation of equipment to establish a training room in the Interior Ministry.