The information age has
also had an effect on policing and crime prevention. The police have taken
advantage of the computer and its abilities to help identify criminals and
offences easier. This forms one main aspect of crime prevention. However, the
other aspect involves cybercrime, a whole range of crime that was made possible
with the popularity of the computer in the world today.
Police Database work
Database work involving
computers is one aspect of crime prevention. Much of this database work is done
using a national crime computer. A crime computer is a police database that
holds information about committed crimes such as stolen vehicles and property.
This can be useful as any piece of data can be retrieved to help solve a police
investigation (the investigation can be linked to criminals who have committed
similar offences before as a national crime computer contains this data).
The E-FIT (Electronic
Facial Identification Technique) is another method of criminal identification
that began in the 1980’s. Because of the E-FIT, police can create an electronic
image of the face of a wanted criminal from information given by eyewitnesses.
The E-FIT can also be shown to the public to help track down the criminal.
The TV programme Crimewatch
shows E-fits and other types of evidence to the viewers. A phone number is
available should anyone be able to provide the police with any extra
information
Although computers are
an advantage to identifying and tracking criminals, they are also used as a
form of communication between different police forces. The information age has
meant that local or international police forces can communication between each
other. This can also prove useful as criminals can be on the run to different
areas after committing a crime. However, if police communication is
successfully used, then that criminal can be tracked wherever they are.
The information age has
also had an effect on the equipment the police carry. Examples of police
equipment include batons, air wave radios and handcuffs. Among this equipment used by police, the
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) is one example of this effect. The PDA is a
mobile computer device which is similar to the average smartphone. Like
ordinary smartphones, a PDA can make phone calls, connect to the internet and also
features touchscreen technology. Overall, the information age has had an effect
on the advance in police equipment technology.
Tagging is also a
method used by the police to track criminals as well as stolen items. One
example of criminal tagging would be the use of an ankle monitor. This involves
a monitor attached to the offender’s ankle. The monitor then alerts the police
if the offender is ‘trespassing’ in a certain area (such as the home of a past
victim). This then allows the police to take any further action towards to the
criminal.
Stolen products can
also be tracked by a serial number unique to the product. When a stolen product
has been found, the police can use the serial number to find out more about the
product such as where it was stolen from. The method of tracking can be used for
many different types of products such as cars. In this case, the police can use
the number plate of the car and a number plate database to track the stolen car
and then take further action. This is another aspect of crime prevention in the
information age.
Microchipping is
similar to human tagging except microchips can also be used for animals. For
humans, the process of microchipping involves implanting a circuit device
(microchip) into the body. The microchip contains information such as ID and
medical details which can be located on a microchip database.
However, police mainly
use microchipping for the tracking of stolen animals. Cats, dogs and horses for
example can also have a microchip implanted into their bodies. Like human
microchipping, an animal microchip contains a unique ID number but also contain
owner details as well. If a stolen animal was to be found, the police or animal
carers (veterinaries or animal shelters) can use the microchip information to
locate the owner of the animal and therefore return them.
Dogs are one example of
a commonly microchipped animal
Although various types
of car crime are a significant problem for the police, the information age has
mean that computers can be used to the advantage of the police in terms of car
crime. One example of this would include number plate recognition. Also linked
in with the national crime computer database, number plate recognition can be
used to identify certain cars in the case of car crime. An example of this
would be identifying the number plate of a stolen car. The police can use the
recognised number plate to track that specific car.
Number plate
recognition is also used for other reasons. This would include the use of speed
cameras. Speed cameras use number plate recognition to identify cars breaking
the speed limit. The number plate of the speeding car is identified and police
then take further action towards the driver and/or the car.
Police can also use
databases to monitor car data. Examples of this include tax, car insurance and
MOT. The police can use this database to track the payments made towards tax,
insurance and MOT. Using this database and the national crime computer, police
can fine those who don’t pay these taxes.
Forensics is a major
area of police work that has been affected by the information age. Today,
forensic police use advanced technology that helps towards finding those
responsible. One examples of this advanced technology includes forensic equipment
such as electron microscopes. Using this technology allows forensic scientists
and police to discover evidence against the criminal responsible.
An example of forensic
police investigation a crime scene
Cybercrime
However, the use of
computers in the world today has created a new aspect of crime known as
cybercrime. One common example of cybercrime is the theft of data using
computers. This involves editing or deleting data (usually done through the use
of a removable data storage device) without permission of the owner. The theft
of data is common among employees in a business as they can easily access the
company data and use it to their advantage. Because of this, many users and
businesses use firewalls and other types of computer security systems to avoid
the threat of data theft.
Another form of data
theft would be hacking. This involves identifying the weaknesses of a computer
security system and then using those weaknesses to pass the system itself. At
this point, the hacker can access data, money and other important information
about a business. However, some people hack computers for reasons other than
data or money. Some hackers like to test the strength of security systems while
some hack into computers just for the achievement of doing so.
Money can also be
stolen through computers in other ways and is another common form of
cybercrime. Identity theft is an example of cybercrime that allows offenders to
take money from victim’s accounts. This is done by using information such as a
victim’s name, ID or credit card details to impersonate the victim. The
offender can then use these details to commit crimes such as taking the victim’s
money from their account. Not only is the victim stolen from but he/she can
also be held ‘responsible’ the offender’s actions or crimes.
A pie chart showing the
proportions of different types of identity theft crimes
There are also a number
of methods to gaining the personal details of victims. One of these methods includes
online scamming. This involves a scammer who seems to be a legit user.
Therefore he/she attracts victims and tricks them into giving away their
personal details. Using these details, the scammer can then access the victim’s
money or trick them into giving it away.
One common form of
scamming includes phishing. The scammer is still trying to get hold of the user’s
personal details except this time, the scammer asks for the details using forms
of electronic communication (mainly E-mail). Phishing can trick many victims as
the form of phishing used looks realistic and legit. If a user gives their
details away to the E-mail or website, the scammer can then use the details for
their advantage.
One common form of
phishing would be the use of fake websites. The fake website is run by the
scammer and is used to collect the details of victims that believe the website
is actually real. Some real websites and companies can also be copied so that
the user further believes in the website’s legitimacy. Malware infected
websites are also used by scammers to find out the details of the victims.
Illegal downloading of
online material is one of the most common forms of cybercrime today. The reason
for this is that the crime is not treated as seriously as other cybercrimes
such as identity theft. The process of illegal downloading involves downloading
material such as music and movie illegally. This mainly causes problems as
legal sales of music and movies (for example) fall and therefore resulting in a
loss for some companies. Because of this, piracy laws have been toughened,
public awareness has risen and more action has been taken against illegal
sites.
A screenshot of a news
article about Sony’s plans to prevent pirated console games. Other companies
such as Apple also block access to pirated material
Another form of cybercrime
is the issues of copyright. The idea of copyright protects a user’s work from
being copied without credit. However, there are a number of copyright issues on
the internet. One of these issues includes plagiarism, which involves copying someone
else’s work whilst claiming it as your own. Despite the number of copyright
issues online, various actions have been taken against them. One example of
this is the plagiarism checker, which finds copied material between two sources.
