Passing e-exam must for cybercrime, EOW posts

AURANGABAD: Police personnel looking for posting with the specialised branches of cybercrime and economic offences wing (EOW) will now have to complete an e-learning course and crack an online exam.
The training and examination module has been designed by the E-learning Academy of the Maharashtra Police Academy, Nashik. The module would save time and resources spent on training personnel who are often not aware of even the basic functioning and requirements of these specialised branches.
Unit commanders, using their discretionary powers, post policemen to these branches, irrespective of subject expertise or qualification.In some cases, the policeman’s ability and educational qualifications are taken into consideration.
The latest move will not only create subject-expert investigation officers, but will also give the police department an edge over the accused. Moreover, the officers are hopeful that in a near future, even conviction in these cases would increase.
The senior officers said that even the policemen who are already posted with these branches will have to undergo this training modules and clear the online tests. Those failing the test will be transferred to some other branch or police station.
Those in the know said the pandemic had delayed the full implementation of the module. “It should take a minimum not two months to implement the initiative,” said an officer.
An expert committee is being formed to design the syllabus for both the courses. Some of the key topics in the syllabus would be the types of cyber and economic offences; the difference between conventional crime and cyber/economic offences; collection and preservation of evidence; preparing chargesheet and presentation of the case before a court of law; and their admissibility before the court; courts and important rulings in cyber and economic offences; reported judgements; amended laws; case studies, common lacunae in the investigation etc.
Positively responding to an internal communication received sometime ago, several unit commanders have issued internal communication asking the interested policemen to start preparing for the course.
Additional director-general of police Sanjay Kumar, who recently took charge of training and special squads of the state police, has been undergoing the familiarisation process. “With the evolution of crime, we need to have policemen who are expert in detecting such offences,” he said.