Hybridization of crime

The goal of this project is to build a European collaborative structure to apply for and conduct research into a novel and urgent topic in the field of criminology and cybersecurity: the hybridization of crime. Basically every form of crime nowadays has both a digital and non-digital component. Thinking in terms of separate domains—online versus offline or digital versus physical—overlooks the ways in which digital technologies have become embedded in everyday human practices and interactions, including in the realm of criminal activity. This intertwinement is what we refer to as the hybridization of crime, a development that poses new challenges for local, regional, national and international law enforcement agencies. The European Commission has made the digital transition one of its top three priorities for research and innovation, identifying cybercrime as a new research gap in its Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027. The proposed consortium combines applied and fundamental researchers and law enforcement professionals from the Netherlands, Denmark, and the UK. These partners bring expertise about cybercrime and the digitization of traditional crime from different disciplines and methodological approaches, and are strongly embedded in the security domains of each respective country. By connecting expertise, the collaboration addresses urgent societal challenges facing Europe regarding digitalization. The network builds upon existing networks, including the SIA/NWO funded Sprong-group “Cyberweerbaar NL” in the Netherlands and the international Human Factor in Cybercrime community. The initial collection of partners provides the necessary base for further expansion of the consortium across other nations. The proposed end product of the consortium is a European grant proposal with various work packages that revolve around the hybridization of crime.