Effectiveness of police training in cybercrime incident response within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Kenya
Keywords:
cybercrime incident response, police training adequacy, competencies, policing preparedness and trainingAbstract
In recent years, addressing cybercrime has become a top priority for police organisations. Ensuring that police officers possess the necessary skills and knowledge to respond effectively to cybercrime is a primary concern. Conducted at DCI headquarters, this study, grounded in structural contingency theory, aimed to assess the adequacy of police training in responding to cybercrime incidents. The research employed a mixed methodology, with 133 respondents chosen through stratified random and purposive sampling. Data was collected by use of questionnaires and interview schedules and analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings revealed that many respondents emphasised the importance of personal cybersecurity in investigating cybercrime incidents in Kenya. Victims often lacked knowledge of comprehensive cybersecurity measures and behavior monitoring was identified as essential in responding to cybercrimes. The analysis highlighted a lack of emphasis on digital crime training within the DCI. This indicates insufficient training in responding to cybercrime incidents. In light of these findings, this study recommends several actions to enhance police training on cybercrime. These include assessing officers' qualifications, employing cybersecurity specialists, collaborating with local and international partners for training and information sharing, continuous training on the latest cybercrime techniques, promoting citizen cybersecurity awareness, and allocating adequate budget for cybercrime incident response training programs.
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