Metro Radio Exclusive - Cyber Crime Unit
Meet the team who're keeping the North East safe in the digital world.
On the back of his yearlong investigation in to the (http://TWITTER.COM/M1CVV) has been given exclusive access to the North East Regional Cyber Crime Unit.
Due to the covert nature of their operations we can't reveal any identities or details about where they're based.
Micky spent time with "Officer X" and "Officer Z" to find out how they're protecting our region.
Officer X explained exactly what they do and who they are:
“**We deal with the most serious pure cyber-dependent offences including Distributed Denial of Service attacks with the use of Botnets, Phishing, Network Compromise, Extortion and high value Trojan related Frauds where malware has infected machines. Our team also work with the other Regional Organised Crime Unit departments and our regional Forces to tackle serious and organised crime by providing investigative and technical support and a proactive cyber capability.
We work as part of the North East ROCU (Regional Organised Crime Unit) of which there are 10 in the country based geographically around police force boundaries. We support the 3 North East forces; Durham, Cleveland and Northumbria. We engage in the Prepare and Pursue strands of the Organised Crime Strategy which basically means that we deal with the investigative side of cybercrime.”
Officer Z told us why they’re so secretive:
“We work from within a covert policing unit which deals with serious and organise crime therefore there are certain things we can and can’t disclose. There is also a certain element of online risk due to the nature of what we do. The team also has a dedicated Regional Cyber PROTECT Co-ordinator, who will look to safeguard businesses and communities in the region and minimise the opportunities for criminality in this area.
Obviously without disclosing too much information, there are ways and means which we can trace people back from email addresses, IP addresses, Usernames, and other online presences. We would probably look to try and establish who is involved and build up an intelligence picture based on what we have got. We then have further opportunities both covert and overt to develop this intelligence sufficiently to be able to act upon the information received one way or the other. It is at this point that potentially we would look to options in terms of how to handle a suspect."
Part of NERCCU's remit also involves making sure you have all the information you need to keep yourself and your business safe.
You can find out more from their website and you can follow them on Twitter @NERCCU
You can hear Micky's full exclusive below.
The North East Regional Cyber Crime Unit (NERCCU) is a specialist team within the North East Special Operations Unit (NERSOU).
The team is led by a Detective Inspector (joint with Regional Fraud Team) and a Detective Sergeant.
NERCCU deal with the most serious pure cyber-dependent offences in our region which can include any serious Computer Misuse offence such as but not restricted to; Distributed Denial of Service attacks, Phishing, Network Compromise, Extortion, and Malware Attacks. The nature of the work that the team do mean that the investigative side of the team must remain anonymous due to the online threat that this poses. NERCCU have a hi-tech analysis facility with the unit which is a big part of the operational day to day workload. The unit also works with the other Regional Organised Crime Unit departments nationwide as well as the National Crime Agency and our regional forces to tackle serious and organised crime by providing investigative and technical support and a proactive cyber capability.
The team also has a dedicated Regional Cyber PROTECT Co-ordinator, who will look to proactively safeguard businesses and communities in the region and minimise the opportunities for criminality in this area.
To report a fraud or cyber crime, please visit the Action Fraud website