NCJ Number
199571
Date Published
2000
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings of the Foresight Crime Prevention Panel in its efforts to reduce crime by identifying the future of crime and crime fighting initiatives.
Abstract
The Panel contends that the United Kingdom needs to begin preparing now for how it will reduce crime in the future. In order to do this, the Panel convened five task forces comprised of members from business, academia, the science sector, the volunteer sector, law enforcement, and government. The report lays out the Panel’s predictions on the future of crime in the United Kingdom and then presents five recommendations for action toward reducing the aforementioned future crime trends. The Panel explains that the future of crime is driven by several factors, but mainly by new and ever changing technologies. As a result, law enforcement technology needs to be on par with technology in other sectors of society. The Panel’s research indicated that changes in crime should emerge in five main areas and law enforcement should concentrate its efforts in these emerging areas. First, the Panel contends that the individual will be able to commit much more far-reaching crime because of innovations in technology. Second, the Panel fears that the globalization of crime will emerge at a faster rate than law enforcement will be prepared to handle. Third, proof of identity will emerge as one of the main ways to reduce crime. Goods, services, and premises will need to increasingly allow only authorized use in order to make society more secure. Fourth, the Panel says that as more data are stored electronically, electronic crime will continue to proliferate. Finally, the Panel suggests that property crime may decrease as violent crime increases, due in part to social unrest that could result from instituting more restrictions concerning authorized use, as mentioned above. Annex 1 of the report presents some suggestions for the science and technological fields; Annex 2 lists the Panel and Task Force members; and Annex 3 offers a description of the Foresight Programme.