Global Scans · Crime · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Crime is morphing away from traditional methods to more sophisticated technological approaches. A decline of traditional hierarchical criminal groups and networks will be accompanied by the expansion of a virtual criminal underground made up of individual criminal entrepreneurs. At the same time, forward-looking agencies are equipping themselves with smart technologies to outfox the criminals. Keep up to date with crime changes below.

• [New] Fraud has become one of the world's fastest-growing criminal threats, affecting nearly every community and millions of individuals worldwide. United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime
• [New] A rapidly evolving conflict in the Middle East, triggered by US and Israeli attacks on Iran, has also raised concerns World Cup games could become a terrorism target. SBS News
• [New] Non-compliance risks fines up to 5% of worldwide turnover and potential criminal liability for directors / managers. Addleshaw Goddard
• [New] The U.S. is beginning to institutionalize domestic drone threat response at the community college level, which could accelerate workforce capacity for a security domain that federal testimony indicates is being exploited daily by transnational criminal organizations. Drone Warfare
• [New] The severity of India's legal response, specifically the terrorism charges, signals that New Delhi will treat future incidents as existential security matters rather than diplomatic nuisances, raising the operational cost of continued mercenary involvement. Drone Warfare
• [New] The Federal Aviation Administration says it has tightened its enforcement posture and now treats operations that endanger the public, bust restricted airspace or support other criminal activity as clear triggers for formal legal action. Hoodline
• [New] Police powers to tackle extremism and Charity Commission powers to shut down charities will be strengthened, and a new whistleblowing route for university staff set up. Institute of Race Relations
• [New] Threats to democracy is the top issue facing the U.S., down 11 points from February, followed by immigration, healthcare, crime, education, and foreign policy. Emerson Polling
• [New] Iran has executed three men who were accused of killing police officers during protests in January, with activists warning of the risk of a new surge in hangings as war rages with Israel and the United States. NCRI
• [New] Fears about lone wolf or sleeper cell terrorist attacks in the US have been elevated due to the ongoing war in Iran, though President Trump has downplayed the threat level. New York Post
• [New] The Council on Foreign Relations highlights that Iran has a long history of using terrorism as a tool of foreign policy, and its current conflict with the U.S. could embolden new threats. FM 100 KTEX
• [New] While Aussies have been advised to exercise normal safety precautions in the US, they have been warned to steer clear of demonstrations and to practice active shooter drills given the prevalence of gun crime. The Nightly
• [New] The escalating conflict in Iran is putting Europe on high alert, with international police agency Europol warning of an elevated threat of terrorism and violent extremism on European soil as well as increased cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Counter Extremism Project
• [New] The bombing of Afghanistan or terrorism in Pakistan will not bring peace. International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine
• [New] The FBI is warning police departments across California of Iran's desire to retaliate for U.S. attacks by launching drones across the West Coast. Everything Briefing
• [New] Terrorist sleeper cells possibly aided by Democrats' open-border policies could be gearing up in the US to retaliate for the joint US-Israel airstrikes against Iran. New York Post
• [New] FBI alerts California police departments about potential drone attack threat from Iran, but no credible intelligence to support it. Yahoo News
• [New] NATO's two identified threats contained within its strategic concept and endorsed by all 32 allies are Russia and terrorist groups. Euronews
• [New] Technology and AI adoption are accelerating across policing, with 2026 expected to bring broader operationalization rather than experimentation. Police1
• [New] By 2026, autonomous agent fleets are projected to saturate manual review processes at scale; a structural asymmetry, since criminal actors can deploy AI without any of the regulatory or explainability constraints that financial institutions face. SOCRadar Cyber Intelligence Inc.
• [New] The expected integration of the Payment Systems Regulator into the FCA is likely to accelerate scrutiny of authorised push-payment (APP) fraud, including screening, transaction-monitoring and reimbursement obligations-cementing financial crime as one of the most active enforcement domains. BCLP - Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner - FCA Enforcement Wa
• [New] In the coming years, new information sharing frameworks and tools will help institutions collaborate with each other to combat financial crime and protect the integrity of the financial system. AML Intelligence
• [New] Under the disrupt strand, a new Online Crime Centre will be launched in April, bringing together specialists from UK policing, the UK Intelligence Community, and private sector partners from financial, telecommunications, technology and cyber industries to drive co-ordinated action against fraud. Mishcon de Reya LLP

Last updated: 28 March 2026