How police are trying to divert teen hackers away from crime

When Lucas was just 16, he found himself in trouble for hacking his school computers. Fueled by curiosity, he began experimenting with programming, even going as far as physically disassembling computers for personal testing. His mother, unaware of the severity of his actions, called the police, inviting an officer from the nationwide Cyber Choices program to their rural Cumbria home.

PC Sam Cooper arrived, explaining the potential consequences of Lucas' hacking. Since then, Cooper has been working one-on-one with Lucas, showing him the legal limits of his interests and encouraging him towards professional training in cybersecurity.

Cyber Choices, also known as Cyber Prevent, functions similarly to the Prevent scheme, which targets potential terror threats. Over 1,150 cases have been referred to the National Crime Agency's (NCA) Cyber Choices program in the past eight years, with nearly 600 cases in the last three years alone. Authorities warn that teenage hackers are increasingly involved in serious cyber-attacks, with young, English-speaking hackers linked to attacks on notable organizations such as Transport for London (TfL) and MGM Grand in 2024, and Marks & Spencer and the Co-op in 2025.

These young hackers often start as innocent experimenters, testing systems or bypassing restrictions. They can come from diverse backgrounds and may be neurodiverse, such as autistic. The Cyber Choices program aims to divert these individuals away from crime by demonstrating the legal consequences and offering positive guidance towards legitimate cybersecurity careers.

One such success story is 21-year-old Izak, who hacked his school computers at 15 and later found his way into the program, realizing the potential of his skills for good.