Agenda item

(i)   Report of the Corporate Director Adults & Health Services

(ii)  Presentation by Detective Inspector Stephanie Bird, Chair Safe Durham Partnership Safer Cyber Group

With the Committee’s agreement, the Chair changed the order of business for the agenda and the item on the review of Cybercrime was to be considered before the agenda item on the draft Safe Durham Partnership Plan 2020-25.  

The Chair introduced the Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor, Durham Constabularywho was in attendance to give the Committee an update on the progress of recommendations following the Overview and Scrutiny Review of Cybercrime and activity of the Safe Durham Partnership Safer Cyber Group (for copy see file of minutes).

The Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor explained that tackling and preventing cyber enabled crime was a strategic priority within the draft Safe Durham Partnership Plan 2020-25.  She noted that the key areas were to raise awareness of the general population about staying safe online, reducing the risk to the most vulnerable groups and building resilience of local businesses of the threat of cybercrime. 

The Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor added that there were core deliverables within each of the areas of work that included partnership working with the Police, the Local Authority and Crime Stoppers UK would achieve the overall priority. 

The Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor advised the committee that awareness of the general public was being raised by attendance of the Cyber Team at large scale annual events including the PCVC’s Superheroes event at Shildon and Bikewise at Police HQ. She informed the committee that digital hygiene training had been delivered to all Durham Constabulary Staff and Officers and Front Counter staff had received cyber security knowledge to help advise members of the public if required.  In addition, awareness sessions had been delivered to WI groups.

The Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor informed the Committee that presentations including the use of virtual reality headsets had been made at schools to staff, pupils and parents. The aim of these sessions was to not only protect young people against cybercrime but also to prevent them from becoming involved in cybercrime in the future. The Committee were informed that the use of VR headsets in the presentations had been a huge success to engage the children. 

To help reduce the risk to vulnerable groups the Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor explained that a “Hack” video had been made in partnership with New College Durham to highlight dangers of cybercrime.  The video had been shown to small groups initially to see whether it was fit for purpose before it being rolled out further.  In addition, various campaigns had commenced including Fearless Crime Stoppers and Young Friends against Scams to reduce risk to vulnerable groups.

New College Durham had offered various courses around cyber security including degree and apprenticeship opportunities to help build resilience of local businesses to the threat of cybercrime.  Various conferences had also been held around cybercrime to offer businesses advice and guidance. The Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor informed the committee that a Lego game had been devised and delivered to businesses and universities to show them consequences of their choices without causing them any harm.

The Chair thanked the Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor, Durham Constabulary for her presentation and asked members of the committee for any questions or comments.

Mr Cooke asked whether Cybercrime covered scams or cold callers as he had been subject to many cold calls over numerous months and wondered if anything could be done about them.

The Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor, Durham Constabulary informed the Committee that her team only dealt with cybercrime and Friends against scams dealt with scams but neither team dealt with cold callers.

Councillor Crute asked how the ‘Hack’ video would be disseminated to schools.

The Cyber Prevent and Protect Supervisor, Durham Constabulary said that consideration would be given to a further launch event that may be held to promote the video before it was rolled out and disseminated to schools as a training aid.  The Strategic Manager - Partnerships, Adults and Health Services added that New college were open to do other projects in the future.

Councillor Turnbull informed the Committee that he had attended a breakfast seminar relating to Cybercrime.  Private organisations and businesses had been invited and he commented that this was a positive initiative to raise awareness to how vulnerable they had appeared to be in relation to the dangers of cybercrime.  

Councillor Boyes also cited an example of an organisation he had involvement with who nearly signed off an order for a significant amount of money until they realised it was a scam.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer asked the Committee to consider the presentation within the context of Appendix 2 of the report that provided an update on progress of recommendations from the Committee’s previous review. The Overview and Scrutiny Officer informed members that the “Hack” video was an outcome of recommendation F within appendix 2. The Committee were advised that this was the second update on recommendations and were asked to confirm that they were happy to sign off the review of the recommendations as they were either completed or delivered as ongoing activity.

Resolved

(i)           That the report and presentation be noted.

(ii)          That the review of the report recommendations be noted as completed.