Three-day cybercrime workshop to enhance investigative skills of police officers

A three-day intensive cybercrime investigation workshop, designed to enhance the investigative capabilities of Kozhikode City police officers under the guidance of a team of cyber experts, will conclude on Friday (June 5, 2026). The programme, according to the coordinators, is aimed at building a more skilled, technology-driven policing framework to respond to the growing complexity of cyber fraud.

The initiative under the direct supervision of District Police Chief (Kozhikode City) Merin Joseph and the Cyber Operations Division, reflects a focussed institutional push to transform cyber crime investigation from routine procedural work into a more specialised, evidence-driven probe.

Cyber cell officers said the core objective of the programme, which commenced on Wednesday (June 3, 2026), is to bridge skill gaps in handling digital evidence and to improve the speed, accuracy, and legal robustness of crime investigation. The training is expected to directly improve the quality of case detection and investigation outcomes in cyber-related offences across the city.

The sessions were designed to provide hands-on exposure to cybercrime investigation tools and portals, enabling officers to independently handle investigations involving mobile numbers, websites and social media platforms. Practical training on using law enforcement request systems of major service providers such as Google, Meta, WhatsApp, Microsoft and Telegram was also included to equip officers to effectively track digital footprints in financial fraud and organised cybercrime cases.

“The training will strengthen officers’ understanding of legal and technical frameworks, including key provisions of the Information Technology Act and the recent amendments to cyber laws,” said a senior police official. According to him, special emphasis has been given to ensuring that digital evidence collected during investigations meets legal standards for admissibility in court.

K. Beeraj, assistant sub-inspector and one of the key trainers, said advanced technical components such as APK file analysis and cryptocurrency investigations were also part of the training module, given the changing nature of cybercrime, in which digital assets and mobile-based malware play a growing role. Unlike conventional training programmes, the workshop adopted a practice-oriented approach to improve field-level decision-making and enable officers to translate technical learning directly into investigative action, he added.