Former homicide detective Maria Bartley, who retired in 2022, has returned to the police force in a new role as a cyber protect and prepare officer.

Bartley has transitioned from solving crimes to educating the public about cybersecurity and the importance of staying safe online.

Her responsibilities include visiting schools, businesses, and community groups to raise awareness about the dangers of oversharing information on social media and provide tips on how to avoid phishing scams.

Bartley also works closely with small businesses to help them prevent ransomware attacks.

However, one of Bartley’s main focuses is protecting the elderly from falling victim to cybercrime, especially through phishing scams.

She believes that the elderly "struggle to recover" from these scams as their "trust in others is shattered".

Maria said: “One particular trend which I really despise, when cybercriminals send victims text messages or emails that claim to be from their bank or building society stating urgent action needs to be taken as there’s suspicious activity on the account.

"Victims are told to click on a link and provide their account details, password and PIN – and it ultimately means they’ve just given all their details to a scammer who has full access to their account.

“These methods are particularly awful for victims who find themselves losing their hard-earned savings, their pensions and in some cases, all they have to live on."

Bartley is determined to reach out to isolated and vulnerable communities to equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to spot and report scams.

By educating people about scams, ransomware, and good cyber hygiene, she hopes to tackle the majority of cybercrime.

Bartley stresses the importance of filling in the gaps and exposing scammers' tactics, so they cannot succeed.

For those interested in learning more about staying safe online, protecting oneself against scams, and reporting offenses, visit the National Cyber Security Centre's website at ncsc.gov.uk.

Organizations interested in having Bartley visit and educate their staff can reach out to her through the 'Tell us something' page on the police force's website.