Home Office Seeks Cyber Security Volunteers to Combat Digital Crime
The Home Office has initiated a campaign to enlist volunteers possessing cybersecurity expertise as special constables, aiming to enhance the response to the burgeoning threat of digital crime. Around 90% of all crimes now have a digital element.
Under this initiative, experts in cybersecurity will be recruited to operate as volunteer officers during their spare time, specifically targeting the increasing prevalence of cybercrime.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones unveiled plans to facilitate the entry of tech professionals into the special constabulary, highlighting that approximately 90% of all crimes involve a digital component, whether through social platforms or the utilisation of various devices.
Traditionally, special constables have focused on community-based policing. However, this new direction emphasises the necessity for volunteers with technological acumen to augment efforts against digital offences.
Ms Jones remarked, As crime becomes increasingly digital, it is imperative that our volunteers reflect this evolution.
We are inviting cyber and tech experts to join our special constabulary and assist in safeguarding citizens both online and in their communities. Home Office Minister Sarah Jones unveiled plans to recruit tech experts to combat digital crime.
Reflecting on past trends, she noted, “The previous administration witnessed an unacceptable downturn in volunteer numbers dedicated to community safety. This trajectory is set to change.”
Since 2012, the number of special constables in England and Wales has plummeted to a mere 5,534 as of March 2025—a stark decline of 73% from 20,343.
The Home Office has pledged to streamline the recruitment procedure, making volunteering more accessible, while also implementing incentives to retain current special constables in their roles.
A new task force composed of senior police personnel will be established to address the dwindling volunteer figures actively.
This initiative is part of a comprehensive reform package described as the most significant transformation of policing in decades. The Home Secretary is anticipated to propose a reduction in the number of police forces in England and Wales from 43 as part of a radical restructuring.
In light of growing concerns regarding accountability, Ms Mahmood plans to mandate police forces to provide transparent performance metrics on vital issues, including emergency response times, neighbourhood team sizes, and crime resolution rates.
Additionally, new provisions will grant the Home Secretary the authority to dispatch specialised teams to address underperforming forces and the power to terminate chief constables’ contracts when necessary.
Also featured in the upcoming policing white paper are measures aimed at enhancing police vetting processes, including barring recruits with a history of violence against women and girls and instituting stronger protocols for the suspension of officers under criminal suspicion.
To alleviate bureaucratic burdens on police officers, efforts will be made to ensure that more officers are present in communities. A named, contactable officer will be assigned to each council ward, extending a prior commitment to bolster neighbourhood policing.
Source link: Mirror.co.uk.
