Officers congratulate Glenrothes pupil for winning cyber crime award
Third-year pupil at Glenrothes High School wins national cyber challenge…….
Officers from Police Scotland’s Cybercrime Harm Prevention Team and the National Crime Agency attended at Glenrothes High School to congratulate Josh Baldwin on being the Scottish Regional winner for the Cyber Choices Challenge.
The Cyber Choices Challenge is a UK wide competition led by the NCA, supported by Police Scotland and developed by Cyber Security Challenge UK for school pupils across all four nations. The online platform game develops the players’ knowledge of cybercrime and the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and encourages players to prove themselves as a Cyber Choices Champion while competing against players across the UK for a place at the top of the leader board.
Teachers and education professionals are also able to use the Cyber Choices Challenge to introduce the Computer Misuse Act 1990 in the classroom, encouraging students from the age of 11 to develop an understanding of the implications linked to low level cybercrime, and inspire interest in pursuing related subjects in higher and further education, and beyond.
Josh Baldwin won the top spot in the Scottish regional challenge and received a certificate and a £100 gift voucher as part of his prize.
Insp Alex Dickson of Police Scotland`s Cybercrime Harm Prevention Team stated: “The Cyber Choices Challenge uses gamification to educate and inform young people on the ethical use of information technology systems. I would like to congratulate Josh and all the staff at Glenrothes High School for the outstanding knowledge in cybersecurity and gaining the regional 1st place prize.
“We work closely with the Cybercrime Unit and partners in the public, private and third sectors to deliver cybercrime prevention advice and online safety guidance. We also lead on the implementation of the Cyber Choices programme in Scotland, which looks to educate and inform young people on the ethical use of information technology systems.
“We also liaise with the Scottish Government and other national partners to develop our understanding of emerging cyber and digital crime threats, and trends providing the most up to date information for officers.”
Depute Headteacher at Glenrothes HS Alan Cumming congratulated Josh on his award: "This is an outstanding achievement and we're delighted that Josh has done so well. In a world where technology is rapidly progressing, it is more important than ever that young people have these skills. Competitions like this one are helping teach important lessons on the correct use of new technology."
A spokesperson for the National Cyber Crime Unit said: “Technology is ever present and is used regularly by many young adults. Therefore it is very important that they learn their correct and ethical use and become aware of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and the Cyber Choices Programme. The NCA’s NCCU deliver a number of educational resources but the Cyber Choices Challenge 2023, assisted by the team at Cyber Security Challenge UK, was a new venture using a gaming platform format to deliver our message but with the prospect of winning Amazon vouchers for the top scorers. The feedback from gamers has been excellent and it is the NCCU’s intention to run a similar Challenge later in the year. It’s great that Josh was the Scottish national winner and the NCA are grateful with the support from Police Scotland with promoting the game.”
For further information on Cyber Choices please visit www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/cyber-choices or contact Police Scotland`s Cyberchoices team at CyberchoicesScotland@scotland.police.uk
