E-Crime Unit
The E-Crime Unit was established in December 2002. It was initially called the Computer Crime Unit and was based at Alloa Police Office.
The unit was formed in response to an investigation being carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in America, involving websites containing indecent images of children. This investigation led to a vast number of inquiries being carried out throughout the world. Some of these inquiries centred on our force area.
Since 2002 the unit has developed from its initial form in keeping with new demands being placed on it with the range and diversity of investigations carried out. We now carry out inquiries in relation to all computer based crime, ranging from sexual offences to missing persons. The core role, however, is and always will be child protection with the unit targeting on-line sexual offences.
We are also responsible for the investigation of major counterfeiting inquiries which relate to film piracy. In this respect, we work closely with the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Trading Standards. We are responsible for the reporting of each case to the Procurator Fiscal and the other agencies carry out all forensic examinations of seized items supplying forensic reports and statements detailing their involvement.
The unit also acts as a point of contact for all officers in the force who seize counterfeit discs. We liaise with the other agencies to have the discs forensically examined and forward reports to officers after these have been prepared by FACT and the BPI.
Since the unit was formed it has recovered over ú20 million pounds worth of counterfeit DVDs, CDs and computer games. Inquiries with banks reveal earnings of several millions of pounds by the counterfeiting gangs who launder their profits across the globe and in particular to China.
We carry out forensic examinations of various equipment ranging from desktop computers, laptop computers, compact discs, floppy discs, USB keys, digital cameras and mobile telephones.
At present we have four full-time members of staff.
A detective sergeant and a detective constable carry out the forensic examinations of any recovered equipment. They have attended various forensic training courses in Liverpool, Cambridge and Wyboston which qualify the officers to analyse computers and mobile telephones.
Examination of the computers involves the officers removing the hard drives from the computers and obtaining a mirror copy of them which is then forensically examined using specialist software to prevent the operating system writing to the drive.
Two detective constables carry out the investigation side of the inquiries. The role of the investigators is to carry out intelligence and background checks on all suspects, obtain search warrants and carry out detailed searches of target addresses which involve all of the officers in the unit.
After the forensic examination it is the responsibility of the staff to investigate and when relevant to do so report offenders to the Procurator Fiscal.
The workload of the unit has dramatically increased from less than 100 referrals in 2003 to 200 referrals from January 1 to May 27 this year. Almost all these cases are proceeded with on indictment.
In January 2006 the unit moved to the newly built, Falkirk Police Office, where the more modern facilities suited the type of work carried out by the analysts.
In May 2007 the unit changed its name from the Computer Crime Unit to the E-Crime Unit. This was in order to address the national perception of computer type criminality and to reflect the varied types of equipment which is examined.
The majority of investigations are intelligence led and members of the public can be re-assured that all information will be treated in confidence. All information received will be acted on. We urged the public to contact the E-Crime Unit with any information that they may have.
The E-Crime Uunit carries out many joint operations with the National E-Crime Unit (formerly known as the NHTCUS) targeting on-line paedophiles residing in this force area that have been identified by them. The National E Crime Unit also assists in the forensic examination of items seized by our E Crime officers.
It has been acknowledged by partner agencies and High Court judges that our E-Crime Unit, is one of the leading investigators of computer crime in Scotland.
