Cisco Networking Academy is Supporting the West Midlands Regional Cybercrime Unit
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The West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit (WMROCU) is partnership of officers and staff from West Mercia Police, Staffordshire Police, West Midlands and Warwickshire Police. The team’s aim is to work together to fight and reduce serious and organised crime across the region.
Cyber Choices is a programme delivered by the Regional & Local Cyber Choices Network, co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency. There are 10 Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) with dedicated Cyber Choices Officers and 43 Local Police Forces that have a variety of capabilities. All cyber officers are capable of identifying vulnerable young people in their jurisdiction for Cyber Choices interventions.
Adrian and Hannah are Detective Constables that head up the Cyber Choices programme for the West Midlands. Their extensive responsibilities include promoting interesting and legal ways to use and develop cyber skills including online competitions and working with those on the periphery of cybercrime, or those who may have committed cybercrime, and diverting them to more positive pathways.
NetAcad as a tool to support cybercrime prevention
In 2023, Adrian and Hannah encountered the Cisco Networking Academy at an educator event at Staffordshire University and were quickly impressed by the opportunity NetAcad presented to provide free, flexible learning pathways. The programme aligned strongly with the Cyber Choice programme aims to encourage individuals to make informed choice about their use of technology and diverting individuals away from cybercrime.
The WMROCU soon registered as a Cisco Academy and were supported by the Open University and Birmingham City University in setting up a series of self-paced classes.
Working with young people from diverse backgrounds
Adrian and Hannah often work with young people who are struggling to integrate in traditional education systems and may be facing challenges in their personal life.
One of the aspects that particularly appealed about NetAcad was the ability to effectively reach and work with young people who are struggling to integrate in traditional education systems, given the highly flexible nature of NetAcad courses and the ability for learners to complete the courses in their own time, at their own pace. Moreover, the Digital Badges were a positive means of encouraging learners and giving them a sense of achievement as they explored different areas of technology by progressing through the courses.
Looking to the future
Adrian B, Detective Constable, comments: “discovering NetAcad has been fantastic for the young people we support. The platform works perfectly for us because of its incredible flexibility and the wide range of courses it offers. Students can learn about cybersecurity and other IT skills from the comfort of their own homes, at their own pace and on their own schedule”.
Hannah L, Detective Constable, adds: “the flexibility that NetAcad offers makes it accessible to young people with different commitments and learning styles, empowering them to build essential digital skills safely and confidently”.
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