Contrary to popular belief, the law is reasonably well equipped to deal with computer crime and has been substantially strengthened by recent legislation. Discuss

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"Contrary to popular belief, the law is reasonably well equipped to deal with computer crime and has been substantially strengthened by recent legislation." Discuss

This statement, made by Bainbridge,1 requires the examination and evaluation of both statute and common law used to address the phenomenon of computer crime and to access whether it/they is/are reasonably able to, in the light of recent legislation, deter, deprive, enforce and punish those that commit certain acts in this ever developing information technology age.

Forty years ago computer usage was unusual; however people now consistently use computers and the internet. A recent report found "the internet to be rife with crime, current legislation to control it seriously lacking and public mistrust and fear extremely high."2 One of the main reasons for the popular belief that the law is not reasonably equipped is because criminal law tends to be reactive and whatever amendments to existing legislation are made, or new legislation enacted, to combat e-crimes3 the law, as rarely being forward thinking nor speedy enough, due to the processes it has to go through, will struggle to keep up with the speed of changes in information technology and that computers can be tools