Surveillance as a Crime Prevention Tool

This chapter explores the way that the monitoring of persons and information can and does assist crime prevention, either in terms of its deterrent effectDeterrent effect or the way that matters can be prosecuted on the strength of the evidence gleaned from digital and other electronic surveillanceElectronic surveillance devices. It explores the mixed blessing of surveillanceSurveillance, weighing the spectre of the omnipresent prying ‘eyes’ of the digital worldDigital world against the value that that world has had in tracking, monitoring, and convicting those who would commit crime, including internationally based cybercriminals. There is little doubt that, despite the fact that this level of tracking would have been used by the secret police of yesteryear and feared by citizens, it has become commonplace and accepted, if not welcomed today. The chapter explains in detail the phenomenon of cybercrimeCybercrime, and possible avenues towards its control. It concludes with an observation about the important role of the Office of Australian Information CommissionerAustralian Information Commissioner.