Evaluating UK Legislation Effectiveness in Prosecuting Cybercriminals and Deterring Cybercrimes: Identifying Areas for Improvement

This paper discusses the effectiveness of UK legislation in prosecuting cybercriminals and deterring cybercrimes, highlighting the importance and impacts of cyberspace and IT systems on the UK economy and society. The digital economy is among the most critical components of the UK economy; hence, any disruption is likely to impact the economy significantly. Securing UK cyberspace is necessary to safeguard national security as modern society relies on the Internet for various services and communication. After identifying risks and threats to cyberspace, the paper presents a discussion of the theory of punishment for cybercrimes, including deterrence theory, retribution, and restorative justice. Case studies are presented to demonstrate the use of legislation (e.g., Computer Misuse Act and Data Protection Act) and its effectiveness as well as identify areas for improvement and offer recommendations considering legislative reforms and investment in cybersecurity initiatives. Finally, UK legislation will be compared with other nations’ legislation to identify additional areas for improvement.