When does damage become a crime?

Enrico Vergani and Giulia Morelli, of BonelliErede, take a look at recent subsea cable damage and the issues which might lie behind it

Subsea cables, which date back to the 1850s, have dramatically increased in number to become a vital network for internet, phone and electricity transmission, including power from offshore wind farms. Recent incidents, like the power outages in the Isles of Scilly and the disruption of the UK-France power link, highlight their vulnerability. As they have become vital to our economy, their adequate protection and safeguard is crucial.