The HCM City Police have set up a cybersecurity and hi-tech crime prevention division. VNA/VNS.Photo Thành Chung

HCM CITY— The HCM City police on January 12 launched a cybersecurity and hi-tech crime prevention division.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Thế Lâm, deputy chief of staff, heads the division (PA05).

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the city People’s Committee, said the city had identified cybersecurity as one of the pillars of building a smart city.

In October last year the city launched an information security centre to monitor, prevent and respond to information security incidents affecting State agencies, he said.

"The city is a 'special' urban area and a national hub for many things, but also faces a great threat from cyber and high-tech criminals," he said.

Recognising that, the Ministry of Public Security decided to strengthen the city police with the establishment of a cybersecurity and hi-tech crime prevention division, he said.

The city would help the police acquire facilities and equipment for cybersecurity and hi-tech crime prevention, ensuring that they achieve a "dramatic change" right from the beginning of 2021, he said.

Major General Lê Hồng Nam, director of the police department, said with criminals taking advantage of the internet and other technologies to subvert political and social security and social order, the establishment of the PA05 would meet the requirements of fighting crime.

"It is also a milestone in the process of making the city police stronger and more modern," he added. VNS