Former Police Scotland cop to head up European cyber crime centre

One of the former most senior cyber crime officers in Scotland will lead Europe-wide efforts to combat the increasing threat of criminal activity online.

Former Police Scotland cyber crime lead, detective superintendent Stevie Wilson, has been appointed head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3).

The Hague-based centre, which launched three years ago this month, acts as a hub for the EU’s fight against online fraud, child sexual exploitation and other forms of online criminality, primarily those involving serious organised crime.

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Technical, analytical and forensic expertise is pooled to support investigations within and across EU states, while EC3 also brokers cooperation outside the union.

Wilson had responsibility for tackling all aspects of cyber and cyber-enabled crime within Scotland up until his retirement from the single service on November 30.

“The transnational impact of cyber crime requires law enforcement to work closely with industry and academic partners,” said Wilson, who started this week.

“EC3 has a critical role in facilitating this co-operation, and I am looking forward to working with all our partners to jointly tackle the threat of cyber crime but also to seize the significant economic benefits that a secure digitally enabled Europe brings.”

Cybercrime remains a “growth industry” with the live streaming of child sexual abuse “no longer an emerging trend but an established crime” that is expected to worsen further, EC3’s latest threat assessment warned last September.

A statement issued by Europol said: “In the wake of EC3’s success, Mr Wilson has now the opportunity and challenge to steer the Cybercrime Centre towards a sustained course of continued operational delivery and regular reorientation on the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.

“This is likely to include the monitoring of relationships between cyber crime and traditional organised crime groups as well as the connection between terrorism and internet facilitated communications and payment systems.”

Wilson had previously served with Strathclyde Police, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency as well as HM Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Police Scotland is one of a number of partners, including the National Crime Agency and customs, to be represented within the UK liaison bureau at Europol.