Police Scotland is set to crack down on cybercrime and fraud – including the rise of ‘deepfakes’ and other online deceptions – through a new academic partnership.
The national force is to work with experts at Abertay University to build greater national cyber resilience – in a bid to improve detection rates and digital forensic capabilities.
In the new strategic partnership, researchers at the university’s cyberQuarter will be supported via two PhD scholarships – sponsored by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research – to help the force develop its cybercrime functions.
The first will investigate how individuals can distinguish between sophisticated AI-generated visual deepfakes and genuine online media, with the aim of creating training materials to improve detection.
And the second will see Abertay students examine the effectiveness of various interviewing techniques through the lens of psychological and sociological research.
The use of new techniques to enhance processing required in digital forensics work is also being explored, as are ways to build on existing research into romance fraud.
Police Scotland will have access to the Abertay cyberQuarter CPD training Lab and secure Malware Analysis Lab, in addition to desk space for staff and events facilities.
Ahead of the launch, assistant chief constable (ACC) Stuart Houston, executive lead for organised crime, counter terrorism, and intelligence, and the senior responsible officer for cyber capabilities, visited Abertay cyberQuarter during the annual Cyber Student Showcase.
He said: “We look forward to working in partnership with Abertay cyberQuarter to share knowledge, skills and use the latest research to enhance our cyber training, resilience and investigatory capability. While we work closely with UK and international law enforcement agencies, we know that partnership working across other sectors, including academia, can further advance our approach to the investigation and detection of cybercrime.
“Our work with Abertay cyberQuarter will be driven by a newly-established Cyber and Fraud Unit, comprising of specialist detectives and staff, that will develop new capabilities and training to tackle emerging digital threats to Scotland. We know that behind every cybercrime is a victim who has potentially lost their savings, their business and their confidence. This new partnership will enable us to share expertise and resource to better prevent, protect, prepare and pursue those who commit fraud, economic crime and cybercrime.”
Professor Lynne Coventry, director of the Abertay cyberQuarter, said: “Police Scotland’s presence within the Abertay cyberQuarter represents a significant step forward in applying academic research to real-world digital policing challenges.
“Through this partnership, we aim to develop evidence-based solutions that support community online safety and promote ethical, secure digital practices in law enforcement. Abertay cyberQuarter continue to grow in terms of our research profile but also in our role as Scotland’s base for collaboration, discussion and thought-leadership within the cyber and tech community. Police Scotland will bring significant added value to the conversation as we collectively seek to make the country a more secure place and instill strong cybersecurity practices throughout our communities.”
Police Scotland joins a growing network of public and private sector organisations based within the cyberQuarter, including NHS Scotland’s Cyber Centre of Excellence, Systal Technology Solutions, NCR Atleos, Cyber & Fraud Centre and ScotlandIS, all working together to address some of society’s most pressing digital challenges.
The Abertay cyberQuarter opened in 2022, receiving a total of £5.7 million in funding from the UK Government and £6 million from the Scottish Government as part of the Tay Cities Deal. In addition to research projects, the centre hosts almost 100 events a year, including a diverse range of conferences, industry workshops, and learning sessions, aimed at boosting collaboration among organisations and retaining talent in Scotland.
