- Nepal Police is establishing an Anti-Cyber Scam Centre to improve coordination between banks, telecom authorities, and law enforcement against digital financial fraud.
- Cybercrime complaints rose to over 20,000 annually, prompting plans to launch dedicated cyber desks in every district for localized investigation and evidence collection.
- The force is modernizing with integrated command centres, provincial forensic labs, and advanced tools like facial recognition and blockchain analysis to combat complex crimes.
- A new National Police Academy in Kavre, nearly complete with Indian support, will provide advanced facilities for specialized officer training and capacity building.
Kathmandu, Nepal — Nepal Police is preparing to establish an Anti-Cyber Scam Centre (ACSC) and integrated command centres at the federal, provincial and district levels in response to the growing incidence of cybercrime and online financial fraud in the country.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abi Narayan Kafle, spokesperson for Nepal Police Headquarters (NPHQ), said the police organisation has prioritised strengthening technological capabilities, human resources and infrastructure as criminal activities increasingly shift to digital platforms and financial systems.
The proposed Anti-Cyber Scam Centre will bring together Nepal Police, Nepal Rastra Bank, banking institutions, telecommunications authorities and internet service providers to facilitate information sharing and improve coordination in preventing and investigating cyber scams and financial fraud.
The initiative comes amid a steady increase in cybercrime complaints in recent years.
Surge in Cybercrime Complaints
According to the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, 20,526 cybercrime complaints were registered in fiscal year 2025/26, an increase of approximately 1,600 from the previous fiscal year. This amounts to an average of around 56 complaints being received each day.
The Cyber Bureau recorded 19,730 complaints in fiscal year 2023/24, demonstrating a continuing upward trend in cyber-related offences as internet use and digital financial services expand across the country.
The number of cases filed in court has also increased. Nepal Police filed 409 cases in court in fiscal year 2025/26, compared with 291 cases in 2024/25 and 255 cases in 2023/24.
Police officials say the growing volume and complexity of cybercrime complaints have made it necessary to expand investigative capacity beyond Kathmandu and strengthen the police response at the local level.
Cyber Desks to Be Established at District Level
Nepal Police plans to establish cyber desks at every district police office to make it easier for victims to register complaints and for investigators to collect and preserve digital evidence.
The expansion of cyber desks is expected to reduce the concentration of cybercrime investigations in Kathmandu and provide specialised support closer to victims. The initiative will also improve the initial assessment of complaints and facilitate the collection of electronic evidence required for further investigation.
The police are also preparing to expand forensic science and digital forensic laboratories to the provincial level. Specialised personnel will be deployed to strengthen investigations into increasingly sophisticated cyber offences.
Integrated Command Centres Planned
As part of its broader modernisation programme, Nepal Police is also working to establish Integrated Command Centres at the federal, provincial and district levels.
The centres are intended to improve coordination among government agencies during emergencies and strengthen the police response through the use of modern communication and information technologies.
Nepal Police also plans to install GPS systems in patrol teams to improve monitoring and operational coordination. The Social Media Coordination Desk is being expanded to the provincial level to monitor online developments and respond to misinformation and other emerging challenges in the digital environment.
The police are also acquiring advanced technologies, including facial recognition systems, call-interception technology, blockchain analysis tools and crime-scene scanners, to strengthen evidence-based investigations.
National Police Academy Construction Nears Completion
The modernisation of Nepal Police also includes the construction of the National Police Academy in Panauti, Kavre.
The academy, being constructed with a grant from the Government of India, has reached 91 percent completion. The project covers 646 ropanis of land and includes 67 structures, including 48 buildings.
Once completed, the academy is expected to provide modern facilities for police training, professional development and specialised capacity building.
Nepal Police is also developing policies for online training, leadership development and performance-based evaluation of personnel. Officials say these measures are aimed at creating a more technologically capable and professionally equipped police force.
With cybercrime, online fraud and other technology-driven offences becoming increasingly complex, Nepal Police has recognised that traditional policing methods alone may not be sufficient to address the emerging challenges.
The planned Anti-Cyber Scam Centre, district-level cyber desks, expanded digital forensic facilities and integrated command centres are therefore being viewed as key components of the police force's strategy to strengthen digital crime investigation and improve public security in an increasingly connected society.
