Abertay University and Police Scotland have teamed up in the fight against cybercrime
- Andrew Batchelor
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
Police Scotland has entered into a new partnership with Abertay University’s cyberQuarter, strengthening Scotland’s fight against fast-evolving digital crime.
The agreement will bring police officers together with academics and students to share expertise, explore innovative approaches, and run joint projects. Two PhD scholarships, funded through the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, will also be created to focus on tackling online threats.
One of the scholarships will focus on deepfake technology, investigating how people can tell the difference between AI-generated content and authentic material.
The aim is to produce training resources that improve detection and awareness of manipulated media. The second will look at interview methods used in investigations, applying insights from psychology and sociology to assess which approaches are most effective.
Beyond these, the collaboration will support wider work on digital forensics and online fraud. Romance fraud, in particular, remains a growing concern, with UK victims losing more than £106 million last year alone.
The partnership will explore ways to enhance prevention and victim support while helping police develop new tools for investigating such crimes.
Police Scotland officers will also gain access to cyberQuarter’s advanced facilities, including its continuous professional development training lab and secure malware analysis suite.
This exchange is intended to give detectives and students alike the chance to build knowledge and refine their techniques in a real-world setting.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston described the initiative as a major step forward: “While we already work with partners across the UK and internationally, there is huge value in collaborating with universities. By working with Abertay cyberQuarter we can expand our capabilities and ensure Scotland is ready to meet the next wave of digital threats.”
The partnership will be supported by Police Scotland’s newly formed Cyber and Fraud Unit, which brings together specialist investigators to develop fresh approaches to online crime.
Launched in 2022, Abertay’s cyberQuarter has already attracted a mix of public and private sector partners, including NHS Scotland’s Cyber Centre of Excellence and ScotlandIS. The £11.7 million hub, backed by both the UK and Scottish governments through the Tay Cities Deal, has become a focal point for research, training, and industry collaboration in digital security.
