Taskforce Report: Technology and Social Media

Introduction

The final report by the Taskforce on 21st Century Policing seeks to identify best practices within the policing force and offer recommendations on how modern practices can help reduce crime prevalence and boost public trust in the law enforcement agencies. The report highlights that the law enforcement agencies need to adopt a guardian approach, rather than a warrior-perspective when dealing with the public to enhance public trust and legitimacy. The findings of the taskforce highlight six main areas noted as 'pillars,' that need to be implemented by the enforcement forces. These include building trust and legitimacy, working to enhance policy adoption and associated oversight, adoption and inculcation of technology and social media in the forces, community policing and crime reduction strategies, enhancing training of officers and working to improve officer safety and wellness. These recommendations were a fundamental part of the Obama administration's pursuit to modernize and improve the tainted image of law enforcement agencies in America.

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Summary

Pillar 3 of the policing reforms deal with technology and social media. The taskforce recommends the implementation of new technologies that can give the police force an opportunity to engage with the general public, to enhance transparency, accountability and also address issues such as privacy. Technologies, such as body-worn cameras, have proven an essential part of policing and it is essential that more investment in technology. Technology is an essential avenue that can allow the police force to improve policing practices, build trust and legitimacy with the public. With the increasing number of technologies that can be used in different avenues of policing, there is need to conduct proper cost benefit analyses of the technologies, the intended and unintended consequences and inculcate the best practices of technology use. In addition to investigating how to include the different technologies to the police force, applying social media is increasingly becoming a significant aspect. The police can use platforms such as Twitter to keep the public informed about investigations, to calm the public and to improve public legitimacy. In the same breath, it is critical to consider any unintended negative consequences and to ensure that those issues are addressed. One of the aspects that technology predisposes the agencies to is issues of privacy. Social media is a popular way today that the policing forces need to invest in continuously.

Recommendations

From the findings of the taskforce report, the relevant departments need to broaden research into how new technologies could be inculcated in policing. Research into aspects such as compatibility and interoperability need to be broadened. The adoption of standards on how technology can be progressively adopted is key. In addition to that, enhancement of training into how these new technologies could be put to use by the officers is key. Policing officers need to learn how to acquire and implement the technologies properly. In addressing the unintended consequence of privacy, there is a need to address these concerns using the legal protecions provided by the constitution. Proper management of information obtained from phones, for instance, is a hallmark of privacy protection. In addition to that, collaborative efforts such as the use of advisory bodies need to be upheld in the development of policy on the use of new technologies. Across the platforms, the agencies need to adopt models that increase community trust and access.

References

President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. 2015. Final Report of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Retrieved from http://elearning-courses.net/iacp/html/webinarResources/170926/FinalReport21stCenturyPolicing.pdf