Technology
E-Policing: Enhancing Police Service Delivery Using the Internet
The report 'e-policing' is the result of two years research by Superintendent Peter Woods of Northumbria Police. With a large anticipated increase in the use of the Internet over the next decade can the police service afford to ignore it's possibilities? The plain answer, in Peter's words, is NO.
'e-policing' explores fundamental issues relating to policing and the internet, such as;
Up until now the police have concentrated upon the negative aspects of internet use by criminals and others. They have not yet explored in any detail how the internet can be used positively to deliver day to day policing services online to reduce demand on frontline police staff and to help the public. This report suggests the issues to be addressed to move this area of policing forward and highlights the value e-policing can bring to the public and the police service nationally and internationally.
To date without a national / international online police strategy, the 43 police services in England and Wales are busy developing their own ideas of what providing online police services means. This approach is slow, wasteful and counter-productive. Few local online police services provide any form of interactive service, while most are confined to replicating information available in printed form elsewhere.
A national online police service with common standards and services is needed for England and Wales, so members of the public and organisations can access interactive services in a standard way.
A new national online police service should not merely replicate the 'real world' police and the services they offer. The internet provides opportunities to deliver different and enhanced police services in a convenient and cost effective way that will give the public increased choice when deciding how they use police services and help to build a new police service which fits the needs of the 21st century.
e-policing has huge potential in both the developed and the developing world. The opportunities provided by the internet to reach even the most remote and disadvantaged communities must be seized. For the first time the internet can provide them with up to date policing information, best practice, training and knowledge.
The internet is transforming the way that we live, work and communicate. It offers the police service in the UK and internationally huge opportunities to improve performance, meet key policing objectives, support officers on the beat, and provide a new improved service to the public.
The internet cannot be ignored. More and more people are making use of it everyday. The time to seize the opportunities that it offers the police service nationally and internationally is now.
Download Enhancing Police Service Delivery Using the Internet from the e-policing website.
Last update: 11 September 2003