Mapping the future: horizon scanning for future crime

Research summary

The discipline-based organisation within universities means that science and engineering developments tend to be taken forward with scant regard to their social consequences in general or crime and security consequences, in particular. Project 1 aims to mitigate the effect of these disciplinary silos by methodically scanning the science (physical, social and computer) and engineering literature, and looking across UCL departments for work on emergent technologies with implications for new crime threats and/or security opportunities.

We are also drawing on insights from UCL’s socio-political and legal departments considering, for example, whether any of the selected new technologies might support or undermine existing social norms that promote compliance with the law, or whether crime reduction measures or new methods of policing/security enhancements might undermine international rights and safeguards, for example concerning privacy.