Item

Investigating the use of social media in enhancing policing and resolving crime.

Mkhize, Liberty Grant
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
This study investigates the use of social media in enhancing policing and resolving crime. Social media is a communication platform for millions of people. Law enforcement agencies in South Africa, particularly the South African Police Service should take advantage of social media to enhance policing and resolving crime, while improving the police image and the SAPS as an organisation. This study was conducted at KwaZulu Natal in eThekwini municipality, Berea SAPS, Durban Central SAPS, Point SAPS including their Community Policing Forums and eThekwini Metro Police Department that were sampled. The study has followed a qualitative approach to investigating the use of social media in enhancing policing and resolving crime. The phenomenon required the researcher to use purposive sampling to get necessary participants and required data. Unstructured interviews were primary methods of data collection. Thematic data analysis was adopted as the method of data analysis. The South African Police Service and Community Policing Forum (CPF) have been using social media as means of communication. The study has shown that social media has contributed positively to policing. Social media has strengthened ties between the police and the community. The police, community and other organisations have been able to mobilise people in numbers through social media. There have been investigative leads established through social media. There have also been challenges caused by the social media phenomenon. Criminals have been able to lure their vulnerable targets through social media. Human trafficking, white collar crimes and cyberbullying are amongst offences commonly committed through social media. Challenges present opportunities for growth, learning and improvement, thus recommendations on social media use in enhancing policing and resolving crime.
Description
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a degree. Master of Policing in the Department of Safety and Security Management, Faculty of Humanities at the Tshwane University of Technology.
Date
2024-04-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tshwane University of Technology
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Communication, Crime, Facebook, Social Media, WhatsApp, Policing, Resolving Crime, Social Media, Twitter, YouTube
Citation
Embedded videos