Cybercrime Strategy 2022–2027

Message from the Deputy Commissioner

Technology is central to the way we live our lives. Technology also has an impact on the frequency and reach of many crimes.

Cybercrime is a broad term used to describe crimes against computers such as hacking and any other crime enabled by technology, such as online scams and child exploitation.

Most often, police respond to crimes that involve technology in some way. Technology has changed the landscape of when, where and how crimes are committed.

The Victoria Police Cybercrime Strategy 2022–2027 will guide Victoria Police as it builds capability and works with strategic partners and the community to meet the challenges and impacts of cybercrime.

Victoria Police remains unwavering in its commitment to minimising the impact that cyber-dependent and technology-enabled crime have on the Victorian community. That is why we have deepened our understanding of the harms cybercrime can have on individuals, families, businesses, industry and government in Victoria.

This strategy outlines our role and priorities in preventing and responding to cybercrime now and into the future.

Our objective is to work together to build a cyber safe and secure Victoria. A cyber safe and secure Victoria means all Victorians, including individuals, families, businesses, community groups, critical infrastructure and essential services, and government are safe to connect, engage and do business online.

To realise this, we will modernise the way we work across the organisation to prevent, detect, disrupt and investigate cybercrime, and support victims when they report a cybercrime.

We will renew our focus on preventing cybercrime through community awareness and disruption, and will continue to enhance our specialist capabilities in cybercrime law enforcement.

We will maintain our collaborative work with our partners— including law enforcement agencies, government and industry—and build capability to better respond to existing and emerging cybercrime threats facing Victorians.

Victoria Police is not alone in tackling the large, complex and fast-moving threat that cybercrime presents. Alongside our strategy is a detailed action plan.

We will actively invest in our capacity and capability to deliver outcomes for the Victorian community. We can and will do more to reduce the harm from cybercrime across Victoria.

Ross Guenther
Deputy Commissioner, Public Safety and Security

• What is cybercrime?

  Learn about what cybercrime is and different types of cybercrime.

• Our mission

  All about Victoria Police's role in serving the Victorian community and our mission to build a cyber safe and secure Victoria.

• Cybercrime is a global problem that affects Victoria

  Learn more about the scope of cybercrime impacting upon Victorians.

• A problem accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic

  How the COVID-19 pandemic has increased reliance on digital technology and increased vulnerability to cybercrime.

• The harm and cost to our community

  Information about large losses and widespread harm to Victorians caused by cybercrime, including financial, physical and sexual harm.

• Cybercrime case studies

  Case studies about online grooming, online scams, ransomware, and malware and intimate image abuse.

• Our strategic priorities

  Victoria Police's five strategic priorities will guide us to effectively tackle cybercrime and achieve a cyber safe and secure Victoria.

• Strategic priority: Prevent

  Victoria Police's Strategic Priority of cybercrime prevention is one of the most effective ways of keeping Victorians safe online.

• Strategic priority: Report

  Victoria Police's Strategic Priority of cybercrime reporting, recording and triage reform aims to simplify and streamline the process for reporting cybercrime.

• Strategic priority: Support

  Victoria Police's Strategic Priority of supporting victims aims to enhance service delivery for those needing assistance after becoming victims of cybercrime.

• Strategic priority: Investigate

  Victoria Police's Strategic Priority to investigate cybercrime is a commitment to continuous improvement of our investigation practices to adapt to emerging needs.

• Strategic priority: Disrupt

  Victoria Police's Strategic Priority to disrupt cybercrime activity is one of the most effective strategies to prevent victimisation and reduce levels of community harm.

• Critical enablers

  Learn about the critical enablers essential to achieving the Strategic Priorities in the Cybercrime Strategy.

• Collaborating for better outcomes

  Working with our partners is an essential part of Victoria Police's Cybercrime Strategy.

• A call to action

  Victoria Police encourages all community members to access information and advice to become cyber safe and secure, and to report cybercrime.

Updated 15 November 2022