"The DESSI project will develop a highly structured and versatile method for Decision Support on Security Investment, which provides a participatory assessment process, which takes into account the many and complex societal dimensions of security investment decisions.The method will be developed through a combination of foresight and technology assessment methodologies, threat, security and criminology research, and praxis in multi-criteria assessment methods in fields such as cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment and impact assessment. The user will be able to compare alternative ways of counteracting a specific threat. The comparison will be made on a set of dimensions in security investment decisions, such as security gain, privacy impact, social implications, political significance, and economy. The assessment will be future-oriented by testing the investments against a set of future scenarios on possible changes in the societal context, thereby checking the robustness of decisions. DESSI will include participatory procedures, in which users, stakeholders, experts, decision-makers and/or citizens contribute to the structured consultation process, and thereby ensuring a balanced and broadly accepted assessment. It includes an internet-based work-flow tool.The method provides for overview and insight into the pros and cons of a certain investment, as compared to a set of alternatives, and leave the final decision up to the user. A strong dissemination strategy ensures effective diffusion of the method.The DESSI consortium contains expertise in: High-level decision support and advice; Conflict and national security research; Criminology and inner security; Impact assessment procedures; Foresight praxis; Participatory methodologies; Cost-benefit analysis and innovation economy."