Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire | WYPCC

Cyber sleuths take on University students in competition

23rd October 2019

Cyber sleuths from the Force are pitting their wits against the best minds local universities have to offer in a prestigious competition

A team of five police officers from the Force are taking part in the first ever Project Cerebral challenge against students from the University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds Trinity University and the Universities of Bradford and Huddersfield.

Each university will enter two teams.

The challenge sees each team given a Raspberry Pi device and £50 to come up with an innovative use and design for it

The teams are being given their devices this week and will unveil their designs in front of a judging panel at AQL, Leeds, in February.

The panel of three will include Dr Adam Beaumont CEO of AQL who will also be a key note speaker at the event.

The event is by invitation only and will include leaders from the technology industry from across the north of England.

The winners (as long as they are from a university) will receive a trophy, workplace opportunities and other prizes

Detective Inspector Dan Tillett of West Yorkshire Police's Cyber Crime Team, said:

"This is an exciting competition which I am proud to be involved in.

"This event brings together education, law enforcement and industry leaders under the shared appreciation for technology and its uses to solve problems."

"We are encouraging the teams to come up with creative and innovative designs which capture the imagination."

The teams will share social media updates as to their progress as the competition progresses (without giving too much away!).

Follow the hashtag #projectcerebral

As well as being supported by AQL, the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson has shown his support.

"Cyber crime has been a priority within my Police and Crime Plan for sometime and I have taken it very seriously in West Yorkshire having invested significantly to set up the dedicated Force Cyber Crime Team, as well as ensuring there was more money available to recruit into specialist digital investigator roles in this year's budget.

"It's great to see the Cyber Crime Team engaging with young people in harnessing their skills, as well as industry leaders and businesses to help raise awareness of online safety and the undoubted growing career opportunities that will arise within policing and law enforcement to help keep us all safe. Good luck to all those taking part!"

Chief Constable Peter Goodman (NPCC Cyber lead) has also helped fund the project

"This is a great initiative which brings together young people, police and innovation - these are the ingredients of successful partnership's as we move further and at more pace into the digital age. The future is about new and exciting partnerships which break boundaries - I am delighted to be able to support this project and commend it as a shining example. "