More and more crimes in the digital space, also known as cybercrime, are being reported to the police. So that officials across the country know what to do in such cases, Austria’s first cybercrime training center was built in Linz. It was made fully operational for the first time on Monday.
While overall crime is declining, internet crime is increasing. In the previous year alone, approximately 66,000 cases were reported nationally, an increase of 9.4 percent compared to 2022. There is still a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the clearance rate: compared to approximately 60 percent of all crimes, only 30 percent of cybercrime crimes are ever solved.
Arm yourself against cybercrime
To improve this, Linz invested 800,000 euros in its own cybercrime training center, as part of the large-scale criminal justice reform. Three rooms at the state police headquarters on Gruberstrasse were specially set up for further training. “Not only in Linz, but also in Bad Goisern, Rohrbach and Grein, officers must know how to deal with crimes in the digital space, what to look for during house searches and how to secure traces on the Internet,” the state police emphasize. Director Andreas Pilsl.
Interactive workshops
But the lessons are not ‘frontal lectures’ in the traditional sense of the word: the basic training, consisting of seven modules, is completed in a four-day workshop. Two trainers guide a maximum of twelve curious people, who can also lend a hand with all matters. A workplace has also been set up on site where officers can practice searches.
Great interest
However, participation is not mandatory: “Everyone knows how much you get out of a training that doesn’t interest you at all. Instead, we rely on word of mouth,” explains CCTC head Günter Fabian. First, approximately 650 volunteers (out of approximately 4,500 police officers nationwide) take action.
Lots to see
A small exhibition should also help: a display case contains a selection of ‘smart’ devices that use cameras and all kinds of sensors to collect data that can be important in the context of an investigation. Here, smart extractor hoods, a vacuum cleaner robot with remote control, camera and telephone functions and a fully networked refrigerator can be investigated.
One per state
Civil servants from all over Austria are currently being trained in Linz. Each federal state would then have to operate its own cybercrime training center.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
