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] Regional conflicts now sit firmly as a highly disruptive Critical Certainty with a network of connections pulling in Energy crises, Sanctions, Shift of global power / weaker co-operation, Terrorism (including cyber terrorism) and Poor investment returns. Informed Insurance
• [New] SB 6 empowers the Texas grid operator ERCOT to police new mega-loads-through emergency curtailment and/or firm-backup requirements - effectively reshaping interconnection priorities and shifting reliability risk and costs onto everyone else. Music Tech Solutions
• [New] Portland police will begin to send drones as first responders to emergencies in a pilot program that officials say could help improve their ability to address crime. oregonlive
• [New] Espionage & Cyber Threats: Iran is identified as an aggressive and capable actor in cyberspace, using state-linked hackers and criminal networks to steal sensitive data and disrupt infrastructure. NCRI
• [New] Eliminating threats to the United States and U.S. national security interests posed by terrorist groups active in Syria has been a consistent goal of U.S. policy toward Syria since the Obama Administration. Eurasia Review
• [New] Regardless of U.S. posture and preferences and the course of intra-Syrian negotiations, broader conflict could erupt and may exacerbate terrorism risks and humanitarian needs. Eurasia Review
• [New] Protests in Indonesia sparked by economic hardship have elicited a heavy-handed response from police, triggering concerns that the Southeast Asian nation could be returning to its authoritarian past. Thesaurus.com
• [New] Washington's new narco-terrorism doctrine risks fuelling the very instability it claims to fight. The Conversation
• [New] The UK faces a growing and diversifying set of threats, including from major nuclear armed states, emerging nuclear states and state-sponsored nuclear terrorism. GOV.UK
• [New] Terrorists, organized crime and thrill-seekers now pose a significant danger to government facilities, operations and the U.S. homeland. The Watch
• [New] Washington will deny and revoke visas for Palestinian officials seeking to attend the UN General Assembly in September, due to their support for terrorism. FDD
• [New] The two most controversial issues remain the disarmament of Hamas, a requirement of all European leaders, and whether candidates linked in the past to Hamas or terrorism will be able to stand in any elections for the Palestinian presidency and parliament. The Guardian
• [New] The American arms industry will remain a source of trafficked weapons-both to established criminal groups in Mexico and emerging organizations in Haiti and Trinidad. Atlas Institute for International Affairs
• [New] A handful of high-profile cases of violent criminal activity by people who had fled to Germany have contributed to the change in mood and stoked more generalized fears of terrorism. Deutsche Welle
• [New] From global exchange breaches to targeted personal heists, the pace of digital crime is accelerating, and experts warn the year's second half could be even more dangerous. Changelly
• [New] In the US, which has seen many incidents of violence from sovereign citizens, the FBI has for at least 15 years seen them as a domestic terrorism threat. Dictionary.com
• [New] In more recent years, while international terror threats still remain a critical concern for the United States, the threat of domestic terrorism has been a growing concern for U.S. national security experts. CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations
• [New] The Counter Terrorism Policing, MI5, and the National Crime Agency have delivered a public warning to parents that online offenders will exploit the school holidays to engage in criminal acts with young people when they know less support is readily available. Counter Extremism Project
• [New] Israel's nuclear deterrence posture could have counter-terrorism benefits, but only with direct regard to Iran or another sponsor state. Modern Diplomacy
• [New] In wartime, the fully mobilized Joint Force will be capable of defeating aggression by a major power; deterring opportunistic aggression elsewhere; and disrupting imminent terrorist and WMD threats. / USA The Heritage Foundation
• [New] REF South Korean police arrested five people for purchasing malware from North Korean hackers to enable illegally gaining points and in-game special items in popular video games that could be converted into real cash. The Heritage Foundation
• [New] At least 270 Health Care officials, Labour and Social Welfare officials, Immigration Police, Soldiers, and other key officials will be trained in human trafficking victim identification, data documentation, and service referral strategies. / Laos United States Department of State
• [New] Once considered a criminal act, terrorism is now seen by U.S. policymakers as an existential threat, both at home and abroad. CFR Education from the Council on Foreign Relations

Last updated: 13 September 2025