City of London Police launch Cyber Griffin initiative

The City of London Police force has launched a new initiative which has been designed to share threat intelligence and best practice advice on the methods to improve cyber-defense for the businesses in the Square Mile.

Under the Cyber Griffin initiative, specially-trained officers will lead a series of community focused exercises such as threat briefings, incident response training and more.

Targeted at businesses within the city, the initiative aims to reach those who have very little knowledge of cyber-enabled crime threats, and individuals who hold IT security and risk roles.

Officers in the City of London Police force’s Cyber Crime Unit planned to launch the community-based approach following increase in cybercrime and more online attacks on UK businesses.

City of London Police Commissioner and National Policing Lead for Economic Crime Ian Dyson said: “As criminals working in the cyberspace become more sophisticated, it’s important we all have at least basic skills to combat those that seek to do us harm.

“Through this initiative the police and industry can work together to share skills and knowledge to protect ourselves from this evolving crime.”

The Cyber Griffin initiative will be based around updates and threat briefings, incident response exercises and advisory groups.

Cyber Griffin delivery team lead Sergeant Charlie Morrison said: “Although cyber criminality challenges traditional policing as we know it, we are now more capable than ever to tackle the problem.

“However, it’s imperative we work with our local community to do this, especially in such a unique area as the City of London which is full of businesses who have the potential to be the target for a cyber attack.”