Perceptions of police training needs in cyber-crime
| Author | Diarmaid Harkin,Chad Whelan |
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| DOI | 10.1177/14613557211036565 |
| Subject Matter | Original Research Articles |
Perceptions of police training needs
in cyber-crime
Diarmaid Harkin
Deakin University, Australia
Chad Whelan
Deakin University, Australia
Abstract
A common observation in the literature on cyber-crime policing is the need for more training. However, there is little
detail of who within the police organisation requires training and what type of training may be needed. Based on survey
and interview data from three specialist cyber-crime units in Australia, this article identifies that ‘lack of training’is likely
to have distinct meanings for different groups within the police: (a) front-line officers, (b) higher management, (c) gener-
alist investigators, and (d) specialist investigators and civilians in cyber-crime units. Each of these groups is likely to face
unique training needs that undermines the overall effectiveness of police organisations to respond to cyber-crime. The
article explores the perceived training requirements across each of these groups and some potential ways in which
they can be addressed in an effort to stimulate further research in this area focusing on the differentiated internal
needs of police organisations.
Keywords
Cyber-crime, cyber-policing, policing, police training
Submitted 21 Oct 2020, Revise received 6 May 2021, accepted 14 Jul 2021
Introduction
It has been amply demonstrated in the literature that cyber-
crime issues are an increasing burden on police organisa-
tions (Bossler and Holt, 2012; Broadhurst, 2006;
Griffiths, 2000; Harkin et al., 2018; Holt and Bossler,
2016; Hunton, 2010; Loveday, 2017; Leukfeldt, 2017;
Leukfeldt et al., 2013; Tetzlaff-Bemiller, 2011; Willits
and Nowacki, 2016). As cyber-crime continues to increase
in ‘frequency, scale, sophistication and severity’
(Australian Cyber Security Centre, 2017: 16), police orga-
nisations are compelled to respond and improve their prepa-
redness for tackling cyber-crime. To date, much of the
literature highlights the various ways in which police orga-
nisations are currently under-prepared or struggling to
improve their overall capacity to manage citizen requests
for help or execute more effective investigations and prose-
cutions of cyber-offenders (Dupont, 2012; Gogolin and
Jones, 2010; Harkin et al., 2018; Lepanen et al., 2016;
Marcum et al., 2010; Nhan and Luey, 2013; Vincze,
2016; Wall, 2007; Wall and Williams, 2007).
One particular message and theme that emerges in the
literature is the need for ‘more’or ‘better’training in tech-
nical understandings of cyber-offending. As examples,
Hadlington et al. (2021: 1) outlines the ‘ineffectiveness of
current training’and the need for ‘clearer training’for all
officers; Holt et al. (2019: 919) suggests there is a need
for ‘educational and training programmes to improve the
views of constables’; Cockcroft et al. (2021: 1) details a
Corresponding author:
Chad Whelan, Department of Criminology,School of Humanities and Social
Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, Locked Bag
20000, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
Email: chad.whelan@deakin.edu.au
Original Research Article
International Journal of
Police Science & Management
2022, Vol. 24(1) 66–76
© The Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/14613557211036565
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