Defining and Registering Criminal Offences and Measures - Oapen

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Computer Offences
Here are the results of the replies of these countries (see table G.5):
In Albania, none of the items (1) and (3) to (8) are separately identifiable in
criminal law. There are, with the exception of illegal interception of computer
transmissions, no special provisions regarding computer offences in the criminal
code. Computer fraud is not included in the definition of general fraud. All items
are separately identifiable in criminal law in Finland. Computer fraud is not included
in general fraud. For France, no information is available. In Germany, all
items are separately identifiable in criminal law, except illegal downloading, which
cannot be separated from other copyright offences. Computer fraud is not included
in general fraud. Illegal access is not considered an offence in Iceland. Items
(2) to (5) are separately identifiable. Computer fraud is included in general fraud.
In the Netherlands, all items are separately identifiable in criminal law, except items
(4) and (5) and illegal downloading. Computer fraud is not included in general
fraud. For Poland, all items are separately identifiable in criminal law, except items
(1) and (2). Computer fraud is not included in general fraud. In Switzerland, all
items are separately identifiable in criminal law, except items (4) and (5). Computer
fraud is not included in general fraud. For the Ukraine, all items are separately
identifiable in criminal law, except items (5) and (6). Computer fraud is, in statistics,
included in general fraud. Finally, in the UK: England and Wales, none of the
items (1) to (8) are separately identifiable in criminal law. No data are available.
Computer fraud is, in statistics, included in general fraud.
In sum, computer offences seem to be criminalized and defined relatively similarly
across continental Europe, perhaps with the exception of Albania where the
need to criminalize such offences may have been less evident up to the recent
past. France and UK: England and Wales do not provide any data on these offences.
5. Conclusion
In comparison to other offences, including some classical ones such as burglary or
assault, computer offences seem to be fairly standardised across Europe, and data
on police-recorded offences and offenders as well as on convictions are widely
available.