New Technology

The Association of British Insurers (2000) http://www.insurance.org.uk/ResearchInfo/ suggest that there are four fundamental relationships between future technological innovation and crime:

• Future technology may become targets to be treated or misappropriated by criminals. The technology attractive to thieves is the technology that is attractive to consumers. If the legitimate supply of goods is limited or a product is exclusive and/or expensive an illegitimate supply of these goods will emerge.

• Future technology may be used as tools in the commission of crime. For example, cordless power cutting tools in burglaries.

• Technology can be used to prevent or mitigate crime. For example, the development of CCTV.

• New or modified environments can also help or hinder criminal activity

Changes in the social fabric of society play an important role not only in creating groups and areas with increased vulnerability, but also in defining the uptake of new technology.

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