--- title: "Cybercrime seen as biggest challenge for police, says senior IPS officer" url: https://projectchintan.com/article/cybercrime-biggest-police-challenge-ips-ls0ak publisher: Project Chintan author: Project Chintan Newsroom section: Society published: 2026-08-16T17:30:29.667Z modified: 2026-08-16T19:00:06.000Z language: en-IN --- # Cybercrime seen as biggest challenge for police, says senior IPS officer A senior Indian Police Service officer from Uttar Pradesh describes cybercrime as the foremost threat to policing over the next decade. He cites evolving tactics, calls for trust-building with the public, and specific measures already in place to counter digital offenses. ## Key takeaways - Senior UP IPS officer Dhruva Kant Thakur says cybercrime is the upcoming largest threat to policing over the next decade. - He highlights transnational scam networks, digital arrests, and AI-driven spoofing as growing risks. - Current measures include multi-channel reporting, awareness campaigns, account blocking, and outreach to at-risk groups; he calls for strengthening these efforts. - Public trust and youth-focused outreach are identified as essential components of an effective response. ## What Happened Dhruva Kant Thakur, an officer in the Uttar Pradesh cadre who has held command roles in the state’s police structure, described cybercrime as the country’s largest looming challenge for the coming decade. Thakur, who is the Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence in Uttar Pradesh, was recently honored with the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. He told The Hindu in Lucknow that cybercrime has grown to become a comprehensive, transnational threat conducted through organized networks and hybrid scam tactics, which increasingly leverages digital arrests, AI-driven voice and video spoofing, and other advanced techniques. Thakur pointed to a need for a more people-friendly approach to policing, noting that the Jantar Mantar protest underscored gaps in police outreach and public trust. He indicated that while the police have developed several frameworks—such as multi-channel reporting systems, public awareness campaigns, swift blocking of accounts, and targeted outreach to at-risk populations—these measures must be strengthened to keep pace with evolving cyber threats. In reflecting on preventive steps, Thakur emphasized that individuals should verify inquiries independently by contacting police and bank helplines rather than responding to unfamiliar numbers. He described cybercrime as a broad, hybrid scam network operating across borders through syndicates, which necessitates ongoing adaptation of law-enforcement practices. Beyond technical responses, Thakur advocated building trust with younger generations, particularly those born after 2000, to improve compliance and cooperation with policing efforts. He suggested widespread awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, residential welfare associations, markets, and coaching centers, using posters in local languages and leveraging radio and social media video content to reach a broad audience. ## Why It Matters The officer’s assessment positions cybercrime as a strategic policing challenge that could shape public safety and security policy for years. By flagging AI-enabled spoofing and the transnational nature of criminal networks, the remarks highlight the need for scalable, trusted engagement with citizens and continuous enhancement of reporting and verification channels. The emphasis on youth-targeted awareness points to potential shifts in how communities perceive and interact with law-enforcement institutions, with implications for crime prevention and digital literacy initiatives. The statements also illustrate an official acknowledgment of ongoing reforms and the necessity to evolve them in response to sophisticated criminal methods, suggesting a sustained focus on modernization of policing in the state and potentially beyond. ## Background The comments come in the context of Thakur’s recognition with the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, reflecting a career spanning three decades with leadership roles in major police organizations and units in Uttar Pradesh. The discussion ties together concerns about cybercrime, public trust, and the role of education and community outreach in addressing security challenges. ## What Happens Next The report notes ongoing use of multi-channel reporting, awareness campaigns, account blocking, and community outreach as part of the policing response. Thakur’s statements imply a continued push to strengthen these frameworks and expand public engagement efforts, including a focus on local-language communication and youth-oriented programs to bolster trust and vigilance against cyber threats. --- Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/cybercrime-biggest-police-challenge-ips-ls0ak Reported from: Multiple Sources