A collage of computer themed images over binary numbers

Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime

Bringing together expertise in cybercrime and economic crime

The Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime (CCEC) was founded in 2022 to bring together our extensive knowledge in these areas, and to enhance research, teaching and innovation in these fields.

Our aim is to harness, coordinate and develop the cybercrime and economic crime expertise across the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the wider University, including the School of Computing, the Department of Psychology, and the Faculty of Business and Law.

CCEC also enables greater multidisciplinary working and cooperation between the many other pockets of interest related to cybercrime and economic crime across the University and beyond. 

As one the largest groups of active researchers in these areas in the UK, our members are at the forefront of researching and understanding the challenges posed by cybercrime and economic crime. Their work contributes to solutions that address these risks and enhance societal and organisational security and resilience.

CCEC incorporates and builds upon the work of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies, and includes our Cybercrime Awareness Clinic

CCEC research focuses upon these broad areas:

  • Fraud 
  • Corruption 
  • Intellectual property crime
  • Financial regulation 
  • Economic and industrial espionage 
  • Money laundering 
  • Cybercrime
  • Cybersecurity 
  • Digital forensics 
  • Forensic accounting 
  • Prevention, detection, investigation and punishment for cybercrimes and economic crimes
  • Environmental crime
  • Victimology

Research groups

CCEC is built upon four smaller research groups focusing on specific areas of cybercrime and economic crime.

Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Group

We're researching how crime takes place using technology, such as cyber fraud, hacking, online abuse, and its impact on individuals and society. 

Computer hacker working at laptop
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Economic Crime Group

We're researching the scale, impact and cost of economic crimes — such as fraud, corruption and money laundering.

man using calculator at desk
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Victimology and Ecological Justice Group

We're researching victims and victimisation, inequality, domestic and online abuse, ecological justice, wildlife crime and climate change.

A Pangolin in a cage
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Cyber security

We're working to improve the security of the systems used to access assets, and to make the way people access them more secure.

Female cyber security worker working at computer
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Cybercrime Awareness Clinic

Part of CCEC, the clinic provides cybercrime awareness advice to individuals, community groups, schools, colleges and small and medium organisations, and conducts research into cybercrime awareness and prevention.

Find out more


Our members

Co-Directors

Mark Button Portrait

Media ready expert

Professor Mark Button

Professor of Criminology

Mark.Button@port.ac.uk

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

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Vasileios Karagiannopoulos Portrait

Media ready expert

Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos

Reader in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity

vasileios.karagiannopoulos@port.ac.uk

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

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Events

CCEC hosts a series of events relating to cybercrime and economic crime.

Every June, the Centre hosts a two-day international conference in person and online, featuring dozens of presentations on a wide range of subjects. In January, we host an online Winter Symposium focusing on specific issues of economic crime. The Centre also hosts a series of seminars on relevant topics throughout the academic year, both online and in person.

Our members have also developed links with Korean academics to jointly study issues in cybercrime and economic crime.   

computing screen with code

Counter Fraud, Cybercrime and Forensic Accounting conference 2023

An event exploring the fields of cybercrime, economic crime and forensic accounting

14-15 June 2023
Richmond Building, University of Portsmouth and online

The 12th annual Counter Fraud, Cybercrime and Forensic Accounting conference will be a two-day event, held at the University of Portsmouth on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 June 2023. The live keynote and plenary sessions will also be available for delegates to stream online free of charge.

Find out more

CCEC news

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New centre to tackle the global threats and challenges of cyber and economic crime

9 June 2023

New centre to tackle the global threats and challenges of cyber and economic crime
killers caught on camera

University cybercrime expert in new TV series – Killers caught on camera

9 February 2023

University cybercrime expert in new TV series – Killers caught on camera
Back of person wearing a hoodie working on a laptop

Keeping young people safe from online harm, extremism and crime

7 February 2023

Keeping young people safe from online harm, extremism and crime
RIS Photoshoots; June 2019

Academic wins Privacy Leader of the Year award

10 December 2022

Academic wins Privacy Leader of the Year award
Close up of half open laptop

New app to counter malicious approaches

20 May 2022

New app to counter malicious approaches

CCEC blogs and podcasts

Man in front of laptop with Pornhub logo - Photo by franco alva on Unsplash

Why we need to talk about porn when we talk about Andrew Tate

Alessia Tranchese

Why we need to talk about porn when we talk about Andrew Tate
Fraud Falling Under the Radar - Logo with introduction title

Fraud Falling Under the Radar ft. Professor Mark Button

Fraud Falling Under the Radar ft. Professor Mark Button
Ship in port - Photo by Dominik Lückmann on Unsplash

Levelling up: How UK freeports risk harbouring international crime

Paul Gilmour

Levelling up: How UK freeports risk harbouring international crime
Men for Equality - Photo by Samantha Sophia on Unsplash

Andrew Tate: research has long shown how feminist progress is always followed by a misogynistic backlash

Lisa Sugiura

Andrew Tate: research has long shown how feminist progress is always followed by a misogynistic backlash
Hacker with mask information of computer - Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash

Online fraudsters, colonial legacies and the north-south divide in Nigeria

Mark Button

Online fraudsters, colonial legacies and the north-south divide in Nigeria

Research publications

See all CCEC research outputs on PURE

You can also view a list of books, articles and reports by CCEC members on their staff profiles.

Our members' most recent work related to cybercrime and economic crime is below.

Featured publications

The Journal of Economic Criminology

Our members are at the forefront of developing the sub-discipline of ‘economic criminology’, and have been involved in setting up the Journal of Economic Criminology.

Visit the journal website


Explore our courses in cybercrime and economic crime

The University of Portsmouth offers a wide range of courses related to cybercrime and economic crime, from undergraduate to Doctorate level. We also offer campus based and distance learning options for some courses. Many of our general criminology degrees also offer cybercrime and economic crime modules. 

We can also provide bespoke courses and accreditation, please contact us for further information.

Postgraduate research degrees, Professional Doctorates and PhDs

Criminology postgraduate research degrees

Explore our pre-approved Criminology PhD projects, learn more about our MPhil and other research degrees, and find out how to join the thriving research community at the University of Portsmouth.

Forensics student puts crime evidence in bag
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PhD

Discover why you should do your PhD at the University of Portsmouth – and explore the subject areas you can study in, how to fund your PhD, and how to apply.

Male University of Portsmouth PhD student in X-Ray Fluorescence laboratory
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