Gardai & Computer Crime

roamer

I assume that the Gardai have a computer department where they can do forensic analysis of computers and monitor certain activities etc. and of course
manage and secure gardai databases. Also, who looks after the governments IT
infrastructure. Is it outsourced?

How could one get involved in this kind of work in the future?
Are these type of positions ever advertised?

rick_fantastic

never seen any positions like this advertised.....

i know DCU do a masters in computer forensics, a friend of mine is doing this masters. saying that there is a lot of cryptography and stuff involved. AFAIK they will only take u into course if u have like a 1.1 degree and ur sh1t hot at programming and stuff

WizZard

rick_fantastic wrote:

AFAIK they will only take u into course if u have like a 1.1 degree and ur sh1t hot at programming and stuff

Yeah, a 1.1 doesn't even guarantee entry!

seamus

It's not outsourced afaik. You still have to do the normal Garda training and time on the beat before you get moved into your specialised field.

deadfingers

They are based in the Phoenix Park and all jobs are advertised internally. So I guess you have to join the garda to get in. I wonder is it as much fun as CSI Las Vegas?

Vokes

WizZard wrote:

Yeah, a 1.1 doesn't even guarantee entry!

Not entirely true. Plenty of ppl got in last year with 2:1s.

roamer

How many people work in that department and what is the department called?

ballooba

Contrary to first impressions, it's supposed to be quite boring work.

monkeyfudge

I remember reading about the first time they were called into action.

Some kids used someones credit card details to buy loads of chocolate from cadburys... when the Garda called round to their house they were busy trying to eat all the evidence.

ballooba

If i remember the kid was said to be "remorseful and sick of the sight of chocolate".

They had ordered off Cadbury's brand spanking new website with a made up credit card number.

This was before you had to use expiry number and when it was impossible to get a merchant account for an internet business.

June/July 2000 AFAIR.

briano

I was talking to one of the Gardai in the Unit, here is the impression he gave me:

1) The computer crime unit is part of the Fraud Bureau
2) Its not outsorced, and you need to become a member of the Gardai to work in it
3) You aren't given preference to joining the unit regardless of academic qualifications ie the M.Sc. in Security and Forensic Computing in DCU, so even if you do the course, and then do get into the gardai, you mightn't end up in computer crime. Sucks.

So, there you go. If you are mad to do computer forensics you could try looking at the big 4 accounting firms - Deloitte, E & Y, etc. They all have IT forensic depts., but it's pretty competitive to get in

Regarding getting in on a 2:1 to DCU, you'll need to bring something else to the table during application, as it were. The people who got in last year with less than a 1st had work experience with security, or had done a security/cryptography related thesis for their undergrad.

monkeyfudge

haha... yes... so not quite as glamorous as CSI.

The Case of the Underage Dairy Milk Addicts... hmmm...

Santa Claus

roamer wrote:

How many people work in that department and what is the department called?

It's called the "Computer Crime" unit and is part of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.
It's not based in the Phoenix park either, it's in Harcourt square !

As for how many people work there, couldn't say.

Zaph0d

Why would you want to join the forensic team of a police force with a history of cack-handed crime scene investigation?

• Allowing the main suspect to handle everything at the scene of Sophie Toscan du Plantier's death
• failure to preserve the scene of Richie Barron's 'murder'
• seizing Justice Curtin's PC with an expired search warrant.

If they teach them nothing in Templemore, you'd think they'd pick up the bit about not touching things at crime scenes from watching TV.

Worse still, the guards have never even admitted they have a problem so there is little chance of improvement. Anytime a problem arises they close ranks.

You're more likely to help the cause of justice by offering your services to the defendants. Better pay too. I'd look at courses in the states or the UK.

monkeyfudge

Zaph0d wrote:

Why would you want to join the forensic team of a police force with a history of cack-handed crime scene investigation?

• Allowing the main suspect to handle everything at the scene of Sophie Toscan du Plantier's death
• failure to preserve the scene of Richie Barron's 'murder'
• seizing Justice Curtin's PC with an expired search warrant.

Oh sure... everything looks bad if you just focus on the negative... they stopped those chocolate stealing youths didn't they?

damnyanks

www.rmcs.cranfield.ac.uk/courses came across this the other day. Some interesting stuff there