During a visit to the PSNI Cyber Crime Centre the Justice Minister has said she will “take every possible opportunity to strengthen the law in this area”.
Minister Naomi Long said: “I am determined to do what I can to ensure that PSNI in partnership with the other criminal justice agencies has the appropriate tools to reduce the harm caused by cyber crime.
“We all recognise the benefits and opportunities that the online world presents. However, we also know that so many forms of criminality are now conducted online, and that increasingly almost every offence may involve some online element. That requires us to be agile and forward-looking in the work we do.”
The Minister also met staff who work at the centre and heard about the challenge of their roles – particularly crimes involving children - in an effort to bring perpetrators to justice.
A total 10,010 CCTV exhibits have been submitted to the Cyber Crime Centre in 2025, according to the PSNI and 1,796 devices have been submitted for digital forensics, including mobile phones and computers. The devices relate to a range of offences, including human trafficking, drugs, murder and offences of a sexual nature.
Minister Long said: “I appreciate the challenges involved for operational partners, particularly for police officers here at the Centre. I want to acknowledge and thank you for the invaluable and difficult work you are undertaking here in terms of protecting infrastructure and safeguarding vulnerable people, including children, who may have been abused or exploited. It is difficult, complex and often distressing work which is at the frontline of protecting the public and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said: “I am delighted to welcome the Justice Minister to the Police Service of Northern Ireland Cyber Crime Centre which is a purpose-built hub dedicated to the analysis of digital evidence across Northern Ireland.
“The cyber world is incredibly fast-paced and always evolving, so it is vital that we continue to be as technically capable as possible, which is why we constantly train and upskill officers within the PSNI Cybercrime units.
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“Whilst not all crime is digital, we live in a world where most crimes now have a digital element. Officers in the Cyber Crime Centre are involved in a breadth of investigations ranging from devious software targeting vulnerable victims to footage captured on a ring doorbell or information provided by smart devices.
“They are also responsible for processing a wide range of digital evidence including the most serious crimes such as murder and child sex abuse, through to burglaries and assaults.
“The Cyber Crime Centre continues to provide us with the advanced digital and technical investigative capabilities that is essential for policing in today’s world and to ensure we can bring perpetrators of crime to justice.”
Sync NI's Summer 2025 magazine celebrates women in tech across Ireland as we continue to encourage more women to enter the thriving sector and address the current gender imbalance. Read the Summer 2025 Sync NI Magazine online for free here.
