Experts from law enforcement, academia and the private sector gathered at the General Secretariat for the first International Cybercrime Investigation Conference from 19-20 September 2005. The conference, attended by 70 representatives from more than 30 countries, was organized by the Interpol Financial and High-Tech Crime Sub-Directorate.

Among the highlights of the conference:

• The Interpol Training and Operational Standards Initiative for High-Tech Crime (TOPSI) received positive feedback from the private sector.
• High-level representatives from America Online, Microsoft and the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry agreed to co-operate more closely in the fight against cybercrime.
• Representatives from University College in Dublin, Ireland, discussed the development, with AGIS partners and Interpol, of a Master of Science degree programme in cybercrime investigation for law enforcement officials. Presentations were given on the Bologna Declaration and the European Credit Exchange Programme, which relate to the international transfer of university credits.
• The Interpol Mobile Classroom was presented for the first time to law enforcement representatives working in this field.
• The Interpol high-tech crime training web server was introduced.

Delegates made several important requests, including that Interpol organize four regional training courses for high-tech crime investigators in Africa, South America, Asia and the South Pacific and North Africa and the Middle East. There were also requests for the creation of peer-to-peer undercover investigation training and forensic courses.

The participants commended Interpol for its initiative in this field and for the smooth organization of the conference. Microsoft representatives especially recognised the well-structured system for the provision of training and promised to work toward closer co-operation in the future.

Recommendations

Recognising

• the lack of globally harmonised training initiatives
• the global need for training institutions
• the need for the global exchange of training materials, trainers and free training sites
• the difficulty in finding qualified trainers
• the willingness of academia and private industry to support law enforcement’s development and delivery of training modules,

Delegates to the 1st International Cybercrime Investigation Training Conference recommend that

• Interpol shall facilitate training courses concerning cybercrime investigations on a global basis for basic, intermediate and advanced levels, and ensure that appropriate assessment and certification are included
• Interpol shall make available training courses for first responders and managers of high-tech crime investigations in addition to the levels described above
• Interpol shall provide this training using its Mobile Classroom and the available training facilities in the organization’s Sub-Regional Bureaus (SRBs)
• Interpol makes the Mobile Classroom available for international training initiatives developed by member countries
• Interpol shall continue its activities in the International Cybercrime Training Action Group (ICTAG)
• Interpol takes responsibility for the collection, retention and dissemination of training materials created by regional working parties and other training organizations
• Interpol Regional Working Parties on IT Crime, working in co-ordination, shall develop training modules for all levels and provide training packages to other regions
• Interpol supports the establishment of an international training network with appropriate membership requirements, recognising the existing European training network (AGIS)
• the academic field should be encouraged to continue and enhance its activities in the development of accredited training modules in close co-operation with law enforcement
• private industry should be encouraged to actively participate in the development, delivery and sponsorship of appropriate training initiatives for and together with law enforcement, in particular, the provision of ‘train the trainer’ programmes at the international level
• Interpol facilitates a communications mechanism to enable students and trainers of Interpol courses to maintain contact and share information and experiences
• Interpol urgently consider the implications of these recommendations in terms of resources and ensures that sufficient resources are available to allow the recommendations to be implemented immediately
• these recommendations are implemented now and reported on at the second Interpol training conference scheduled for the third quarter of 2006. An update will be provided to the participants of the conference by Interpol.