Cyber crime emerging as the biggest challenge facing police: senior IPS officer

A multifaceted approach is necessary to curb the evolving challenges of cybercrime, as it bypasses traditional security models, IPS officer Dhruva Kant Thakur said on Sunday. Mr. Thakur, a U.P. cadre officer, who was recently honoured with the President’s Medal (PSM), said cybercrime would be the biggest challenge for the country over the coming decade. He added that the Jantar Mantar protest has shown that law enforcement needs a people-friendly approach to improve trust between police and citizens.

“The increasing incidents of digital arrests and other cyber crimes demonstrate that cyber crime has emerged as the biggest threat to the country. We have developed multiple frameworks — including multi-channel reporting systems, awareness campaigns, swift blocking of accounts, and outreach to at-risk populations — but these need to be further strengthened. With scammers weaponising digital arrest alongside AI voice and video spoofing, the risks will only rise. It is essential that individuals conduct independent verification by contacting police and bank helplines, rather than responding to strange numbers. Cyber-crime is a comprehensive hybrid scam network operating at a transnational level through organised syndicates,” the 1994-batch IPS officer who is Director General (Home Guards and Civil Defence) in U.P. told The Hindu in Lucknow.

Earlier, this week Mr. Thakur was awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM), for his distinguished career spanning three decades. He held key responsibilities in the country’s largest police organisations and headed specialised units.

He added that the police need to foster trust with the generation born after 2000 which presents a new challenge to the existing framework of law enforcement.

“It is crucial to promote awareness about the importance of law enforcement in schools, colleges, Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs), markets, and coaching centres,” Mr. Thakur said. “Utilising local-language posters, radio, and social media videos will help reach a wider audience and further improve trust between police and citizens.”