ABSTRACT
In this book we move situational crime prevention to the apex of societal change, the prime feature of that change being the revolution in information technology. We argue that, although many of the security principles of situational crime prevention have been around for many centuries, its unique feature is that it can be adapted to changing conditions and environments. If we are successful in convincing the reader of this thesis, then we will have fulfilled the promise of situational crime prevention described – somewhat ambivalently – by David Garland (2001) in his book Culture of Control. Garland characterised situational crime prevention as an approach of criminology that emerged as a result of certain changing conditions of ‘late modern’ society. He identified those conditions as changes in the structure of the family and household, changes in social ecology and demography, the democratisation of social life, and the electronic mass media. He does not, however, single out information technology as an unremitting force that has changed and continues to change the basic fabric of society1. This book ascribes to information technology a much heavier role in regard to the new opportunities for crime that it has spawned, and also accentuates the close link that exists – and has always existed – between situational crime prevention and technology.
