Parliamentary Question No. 657 of 22 February 2022 refers to the number of cases that the Garda computer crime unit has dealt with in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.
I can assure the Deputy that the prevention and investigation of cybercrime is a priority for the Government and for An Garda Síochána. Budget 2022 provides over €2 billion in funding to An Garda Síochána. Since 2016 the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €500m, or 33%. These funds provide for continued investment in the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), with ongoing expansion of the Bureau.
The Bureau is the national Garda unit tasked with the forensic examination of computer media seized during the course of any criminal investigations. These include murders, cybercrime, online harassment, computer intrusions, child exploitation offences and any criminal investigation in which computers are seized or may contain evidential data. The unit also conducts investigations into cyber-dependent crimes which are significant or complex in nature, network intrusions, data interference and attacks on websites belonging to Government departments, institutions and corporate entities.
The Bureau is part of Organised and Serious Crime, and is staffed by civilian personnel and Garda members of various ranks up to Detective Superintendent. Members of the unit undergo intensive training in the area of forensic computing and cybercrime investigations, and give expert witness testimony in all types of investigations and prosecutions in court. In addition to its forensic and investigative role, GNCCB acts as a liaison with various partner agencies and law enforcement bodies.
The expansion of the GNCCB is a priority project under A Policing Service for our Future , the implementation plan for the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The aim of this project is to significantly enhance the capabilities of GNCCB to tackle cybercrime in this jurisdiction, including the establishment of six GNCCB Cyber Satellite hubs strategically located throughout the country.
I am pleased to note that Cyber Satellite hubs have recently been established in Cork, Galway, Mullingar and Wexford. These hubs are engaged in cybercrime forensics, investigations and support roles.
For the Deputy's information the table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of cases that the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau has dealt with in 2020, 2021, and up to and including 9 May 2022.
Year
|
Cases created on GNCCB systems
|
Cases closed by GNCCB
|
2020
|
400
|
333
|
2021
|
490
|
431
|
To-date in 2022
|
166
|
162
|
Breakdown of Case Incident Type:
Incident Type
|
2020
|
2021
|
2022
|
Armed Robbery
|
|
3
|
2
|
CCTV Requests
|
2
|
9
|
2
|
Child Exploitation / Grooming
|
34
|
45
|
13
|
Child Pornography Enquiry
|
170
|
212
|
59
|
Criminal Damage
|
4
|
|
|
Cyber Crime - Cyber Attacks
|
5
|
|
|
Data Retrieval
|
35
|
39
|
8
|
Denial of Service
|
|
1
|
|
Disclosure of Personal Data
|
3
|
1
|
|
Drug Offenses
|
4
|
10
|
5
|
Fraud Enquiry
|
5
|
|
|
Harassment
|
19
|
23
|
15
|
Human Trafficking
|
1
|
12
|
4
|
Internal Affairs
|
4
|
20
|
6
|
Internet Investigation
|
2
|
|
|
Interpol Request
|
1
|
|
|
Missing Person
|
|
3
|
2
|
Murder - Suspect
|
16
|
7
|
15
|
Murder - Victim
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
Mutual Assistance Request
|
1
|
1
|
|
Phishing Incident
|
1
|
|
|
Ransomware
|
1
|
15
|
3
|
Sexual Assault / Rape
|
17
|
13
|
8
|
Telecommunications
|
1
|
|
|
Terrorism
|
10
|
8
|
1
|
Theft and Fraud Offences
|
58
|
56
|
15
|
Unauthorised Access
|
4
|
11
|
2
|
Website Defacement
|
|
|
2
|
Total
|
400
|
490
|
166
|