Why Do Police Officers Use Social Media

Introduction

As officer of the law enforcement and servants of the state crime fighting apparatus the police officers have a duty to guard against too much openness in communicating and spilling the beans to the public as it might have the chance to jeopardise ongoing investigations. However as the citizens of a modern society where social media is ever present one can’t be really able to keep all the social media savvy people away from using these means of communication. But these shall be a limit to what people in these positions can do and how far they can go as far as using the social media sites and forms to express themselves. Even most of the police departments have a social media presence now a days. Most police organisations are

present on Facebook and twitter. These platforms are used by the departments to be in constant touch with the people. People can really connect quickly through these sites and express their anguish. They can upload news, videos of mis-happenings and thus inform the departments positively.
But there shall b laws and regulations which shall govern how far one can be in touch with these medium as a practicing law enforcement officer and how much time can one devote, what can be revealed and what not.

Need for communication

In the last few decades there has been a dramatic increase in the communicative interaction between the police departments and the citizens they work for. One of the better example is the initiative taken by the Chicago police department to bring formal emails of citizens which is a direct communication under the programme of Chicago Police Department’s Citizen Information Collection for Automated Mapping (Mueller, 2011).
The information available about how to communicate persuasively and effectively is extensive. The focus is primarily on creating the high-impact communication that contributes to effective leadership in law enforcement. Both formal and informal leaders must be persuasive and dynamic communicators. Effective interpersonal communication skills often help informal leaders be selected for formal leadership positions. Suggestions for becoming effective communicators can be divided into the following two categories:
(1) Speaking and writing, and
(2) Nonverbal communication.
Police personnel are increasingly required to communicate more effectively to the immediate society as the societies they serve has become more diverse by the day. In the recent decade the communication platform has changed drastically as there is breakthrough in electronic communication. This has helped in the reporting of crime in amore discrete manner and more effective policing is possible (Michael A. Caldero, 2010).

E-mail networks, the Internet, and corporate intranets and the advent of instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have carried communication Technology even further and it is imperative that police managers continue to avail themselves of the latest communications technology as it develops.

However, police managers should also be aware that sometimes unintended problems result from the introduction of new technology. These unforeseen problems actually increase communication with some unfortunate consequences. Sometimes errors creep into the system and intricate and delicate information is leaked. Criminals can hack into police website if they are connected to social platforms thorough some intranet platforms. These developments are not uncommon and there has been instances of corporate data bases being hacked and personal information’s being stolen and privacy rights of millions if people being compromised.

Use and practicality of Social Media in Law enforcement

Anticipating crimes

Social media has become a platform to monitors peoples movement and the probability of an unlawful gathering being taking place. Law enforcement officers now a days use the real time information available on various social media platforms to know about various large scale public gathering and thus it becomes easier for them to watch them. They can thus make plans in advance to make plans to tackle such issues and maintain peace.
Closing investigations quickly
Most of the people interviewed for this purpose are of the opinion that using the social media would help to solve the crimes much faster. To most of these people communication is faster and messages can be sent much faster to a large no of people using these platforms and thus society can be made aware easily about a crime or a criminal. Police can circulate photographs easily and much faster and juveniles on the run can be identified. Other crimes can be solved as examination of photographs is much easier in these platforms.
Social media is a Two-way public communications

Social media has become a two way communication platform.

In the United States in the last few years more than 13/rd of the crimes are notified through social media. This phenomenon has grown by more than 11% in the last 2 years. Public are increasingly being notified about emergency situations, and traffic issues. Police officers are increasingly seeking public’s knowledge to find clues about criminals and criminal incidents.

Law enforcement officers share social media success stories

Law enforcement use of social media to anticipate criminal activity experienced a significant increase in the last few years. More than 51% people surveyed have expressed their opinion that they follow tip offs about criminal activities. Law enforcement personnel are using social media tools in increasingly unique and effective ways, from locating criminals and evidence to communicating directly with the community about public safety matters

Directions to use Social Media and communication technology to serve better

However using social media platforms while on duty can be risky and irksome. Police officers can’t be fully stopped from using such platforms in their personal space but they must not use official time for personal purpose. It can create conflicts of interest and can be used by criminal elements to target them and their departments and this can be

fatal.
1. Police officers hall not use official communication platforms for personal messaging and shall not mix both under any circumstances.
2. They shall use secrecy and not disclose any official matter on their personal social media space.
3.

No messages related to crimes they are investigating or about a particular criminal they are investigating shall not be listed on a personal space.

4. Police and law enforcement officer shall not under any circumstances reveal details of departmental work to any outside people using any type of media space other which was allowed to them.

5. Personal comments shall not be made whether officially or personally which can create social unrest.

6. Police officers investigating potential crimes must not use the social media without consulting their social media cell.

7. Do not use business e-mail for jokes or frivolous messages.

8. Deal with personal or sensitive issues in person, not through an impersonal electronic medium.

9. Police officers shall keep in mind that emails are not private correspondence and can become public without their consent. Thus sensitive remarks can’t be made via such mails.

10. Use caution when responding to e-mails. How something is said in e-mail language is just as important as what is said. No matter how emotional the issue or the contents of the e-mail received and the resultant need to verbalize emotions, do not vent and send.

11. Sensitive information of any kind be kept away from social media

platforms.

Conclusion

In the advancement of technology in the last few decades, the benefits have shown that it would continue to aid Police organisations in fighting crime. It’s an important tool in identifying evidence and individuals. But the real problem is in its overuse. Police departments shall train people and personnel as to how the social media and latest communication devices can be used effectively and so as not to spill secret details of their work. As the police personnel adopt new technology, they would surely get adaptive and use these resources increasingly to fight crime and prevent untoward incidents in future. But to make this possible there shall be thin line between using social media for business purpose and for private purpose. While there can be privacy concerns when a police officer use personal data on social media, the absence of those also going to dampen their fundamental rights. The need is to keep a balance an dgo forward. The only way this can be achieved is by teaching the personnel the nuances of social media and its pitfalls.