Going AFK: interrogating the viability of desistance theorising for narratives of cyber-dependent criminal careers

I just want to live a normal life filled with interesting problems’; Exploring identity reconciliation in desistance from cyber-dependent crime (2024)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Anderson, S., Horgan, S., & Collier, B. (2024, July). I just want to live a normal life filled with interesting problems’; Exploring identity reconciliation in desistance from cyber-dependent crime. Presented at British Society of Criminology Conference, Glasgow, UK

Drawing on the in-depth life history narratives of a small sample (n=5) of people previously involved in cyber-dependent crime, this paper explores the way in which the separation of different social- identities (i.e. online and offline selves; pre-... Read More about I just want to live a normal life filled with interesting problems’; Exploring identity reconciliation in desistance from cyber-dependent crime.

Watching you desist: Policing as punishment in the cybercrime context (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Horgan, S., Anderson, S., & Collier, B. (2022, September). Watching you desist: Policing as punishment in the cybercrime context. Paper presented at European Society of Criminology, Malaga

Cyber-dependent crime is now more often considered a national security issue rather than a routine policing matter. 'High-policing' agencies tend to take the lead in law enforcement responses, even when crimes are petty, ‘low-tech’, or born of curios... Read More about Watching you desist: Policing as punishment in the cybercrime context.

Moving AFK: Exploring the applicability of contemporary desistance theorising for cyber-dependent offending (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Anderson, S., Horgan, S., & Collier, B. (2022, September). Moving AFK: Exploring the applicability of contemporary desistance theorising for cyber-dependent offending. Paper presented at European Society of Criminology, Malaga

The presentation will explore the analytical utility of contemporary theories of desistance for making sense of narratives of cyber-dependent offending careers. Until recently, cybercrime research has been preoccupied with situational theorisations o... Read More about Moving AFK: Exploring the applicability of contemporary desistance theorising for cyber-dependent offending.

Why do researchers get 'hackers' so wrong, and why we should be worried about the police's response? (2022)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Horgan, S., Anderson, S., & Collier, B. (2022, June). Why do researchers get 'hackers' so wrong, and why we should be worried about the police's response?. Paper presented at Electromagnetic Field, Eastnor Castle Deer Park

In this presentation, two criminologists and one sociologist reflect on why criminology and sociology often get ‘hacking’ very wrong - and on the challenges we faced trying to get it (a bit more) right.

We draw on ongoing research into how involv... Read More about Why do researchers get 'hackers' so wrong, and why we should be worried about the police's response?.

Hacking Desistance: Exploring Police Practices and Social Control Strategies in Cases of Cyber-dependent Crime
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Horgan, S., Anderson, S., & Collier, B. (2024, November). Hacking Desistance: Exploring Police Practices and Social Control Strategies in Cases of Cyber-dependent Crime. Presented at 2024 American Society of Criminology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California

Cybercrime is often considered a national security rather than a policing matter. ‘High-policing’ agencies tend to take the lead in law enforcement responses, even when crimes are petty, ‘low-tech’, or born of curiosity rather than malice. We draw on... Read More about Hacking Desistance: Exploring Police Practices and Social Control Strategies in Cases of Cyber-dependent Crime.