A government think tank, Foresight, has produced a report on the future of crime in a world that has gone online. The world of the criminal will be radically changed by new technology. Rather than nicking your car stereo, the thief . . .

A government think tank, Foresight, has produced a report on the future of crime in a world that has gone online. The world of the criminal will be radically changed by new technology. Rather than nicking your car stereo, the thief of 2020 will be after your whole digital persona. Electronic theft and fraud will happen faster, reducing the chances of catching a person red-handed.

But there will be trade-offs. Physical property will be easier to protect when it can all be tagged, for example, and much more identifying evidence will be able to be gathered from the scene of a crime.

Reaction to crime will also change, as people have less contact with offenders. However, Foresight could not be sure whether attitudes would get more liberal or become harsher.

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