A nationwide police programme, Cyber Choices, is working to divert young people with hacking abilities from cyber criminality. The scheme, also known as Cyber Prevent, targets predominantly boys and young men at risk of being drawn into illegal online activities.
More than 1,150 cases have been referred to the National Crime Agency (NCA)'s Cyber Choices scheme over the last eight years, with nearly 600 of these referrals occurring in the last three years. Authorities have noted an increasing role of teenage hacking groups in serious cyber-attacks.
Police officers involved in the programme, such as PC Sam Cooper, explain the real consequences of cyber-attacks to participants. They then provide positive encouragement over months of one-to-one meetings, often at the young people's homes, to guide them towards professional training and qualifications in cyber security.
Paul Foster, who leads cyber prevention work at the NCA, stated that many young offenders do not initially intend to become criminals. Instead, they often begin by experimenting with technology before becoming involved in online communities where hacking is encouraged. Many individuals dealt with by the programme are described as neurodiverse, often having a strong affinity with computers.
While some critics express concern that teaching cyber skills to individuals with a history of hacking could make them more capable offenders, Foster believes that the alternative of not offering such a programme would be worse.