Tomas Lazor, a Podpraporcik, which means Warrant Officer/Investigator, from the Police Force of the Slovak Republic, came to Wales to meet with Mike Yeo, Detective Inspector of the Cyber Crime team of the Southern Wales Regional Organised Crime Unit (TARIAN).

The Slovak Police Force is growing and developing its cyber resources and whilst not being a dedicated cyber investigator himself Tomas, along with many others in the Force, is keen to learn, collaborate and do more to help cyber victims in his District of Strážske, Michalovce in the Region of Košice in Eastern Slovakia.

On a trip to the UK, which included visits to the Northampton Police, EMSOU (the East Midlands ROCU) and the London-based Police ICT Company who promote UK Police practices and technology worldwide, Tomas discussed approaches to cyber investigation and shared ideas and best practice on a range of cyber-related topics.

With a population of 5 million, Slovakia is closer to Wales in size and dynamics than to the UK as a whole and Tomas jumped at the opportunity to come to Wales and meet with the TARIAN Regional Cyber Crime Unit who have been proactive members of the Cyber Wales Ecosystem since attending the first ever South Wales Cyber Security Cluster meeting back in 2014.

He also brought with him an age-old police tradition, practiced by representatives when visiting their international counterparts. The 'exchanging of hats' is widely practiced between visiting police forces and in return for the Slovakian forage cap he was given an iconic UK Police helmet complete with the cap badge of the South Wales Police.