The battle against cyber crime, bullying and hate posts will be boosted by the appointment of a specialised regional cyber crime unit of An Garda Siochana due to open in the coming months, it was confirmed this week.
Speaking at the Galway County Counciul Joint Policing Committee meeting this week, Chief Supt Tom Curley said that staff had been appointed to the unit and preparations are being made to acommmodate them within the Garda Regional HQ at Murrough.
The issue was raised at the meeting by several members who felt that the use of social media and the internet to intimidate, to harass and to bully, as well as to defraud the public, necessitated the appointment of such a unit.
“Work is on at the moment to construct the office facilities and technology they need literally just down the hallway from me” said Chief Supt Curley.
“Ther unit will initially comprise one detective sergeant and four detective Gardaí and the nature of their work will require some modification of the building.
“The builders moved in today and we expect the unit to be up and running and fully operational within a few months,” he said.
The news was welcomed by members of the JPC, with Cllr Colm Keaveney describing it as a solid commitment by an Garda Siochana to prevent hidden personal crime, commercial crime, and bullying.
“I congratulate them for this which will go some way to protecting young people who are suffering from poor mental health and anxiety brought on by crimes connected to the use of technology and social media,” he said.
