The Police CyberAlarm (PCA) team has strengthened its team of experts with the new appointment of Andy Richmond as national co-ordinator.

Andy joins PCA with a wealth of expertise having worked in law enforcement for the last 23 years. He started his career as a serving police officer taking on a number of frontline responsibilities. From there, he took on the position of detective gaining valuable experience in serious and organised crime, which led him to the role of cyber and dark web detective inspector for the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU).

As national co-ordinator, Andy is one of the primary contacts for all national enquiries, working with organisations across multiple sectors to sign them up as PCA members.

Commenting on his new role, Andy says: “The work the team is doing is hugely significant in better understanding cyber-attacks, not only a national level but globally too. This is certainly the frontline of defence when it comes to cyber security for many organisations, and I’m delighted to be joining the team at a time when the demand for PCA is growing.

“I hope to bring together the current and future benefits of PCA with operational policing and to be an enabler for both areas in helping bring perpetrators to justice. In utilising my own skills I’m committed to continuing to build upon the value PCA can contribute to a safer cyber environment for organisations and the wider community.”

Police CyberAlarm is a free tool that organisations can sign up for as a member providing them with valuable information and intelligence on the latest cyber threats. It works alongside current cyber security products, such as firewalls, anti-spam and network anti-virus, reporting on suspicious and potentially malicious attack activity. It shows companies how they are being attacked, and where from so they can ultimately improve their cyber resilience, as well as supporting the police in understanding trends and patterns of criminal activity.

Since it launched, PCA has identified over a billion potential malicious incidents resulting in reports and guidance being given to its members, enabling them to take action to prevent a successful attack.

Deputy Lead NPCC National Cybercrime Programme, Detective Superintendent, Martin Peters who heads up the Police CyberAlarm team, adds: “We are thrilled to have Andy on board. The knowledge and skill set he brings across a wide spectrum of policing disciplines, especially within cyber, will be a huge asset in strengthening our current position.

“Although our membership numbers are increasing there is still plenty of work to be done in engaging with organisations about the huge importance this level of cyber security brings to ensuring online safety. And, with Andy’s passion and enthusiasm I believe we will continue to positively position Police CyberAlarm as a must-have tool for anyone operating digitally.”

To find out more information about Police CyberAlarm and how to sign up as a member for free, go to https://cyberalarm.police.uk. To keep updated with all the latest PCA news follow @PolCyberAlarm on X or LinkedIn.