Introduction
The work of law enforcement officers to maintain law and order in society has never been easy. Although governments develop rules, regulations, and policies, not everybody is willing to follow them as required. Human beings are rebellious and tend to do what they are told not to do, knowingly or unknowingly, possibly testing possible outcomes or accomplishing self-interested goals. Therefore, the law enforcement agencies and their officers are mandated to make sure that everybody follows developed laws and regulations. Various factors such as departmental policies, society, and technologies influence the work of policing. Technological advancement is the most important factor that will significantly influence policing in the future.
Main body
The adoption of technologies in policing has been increasing over the years. Some of the technologies that will continue impacting how the law enforcement officers execute their duties and responsibilities include social media, artificial intelligence, robots, shotspotters, drones, and enhanced body-worn cameras. Gunfire is not an uncommon incident in towns and other places that requires immediate response by police officers on patrol. Identifying the exact location where gunfire occurs may be time-consuming, wasting precious moments that can help save lives and apprehend the perpetrators. Most cities have the plan to install shot spotter technology that can detect gunfire and instantly rely on analyzed data from police officers (Escamilla & Reichert, 2019). This technology will enable police officers to arrive on the gunfire scene faster.
Social media is a technology that has changed the way information is disseminated and consumed, and it will positively influence police surveillance in the future. Law enforcement agencies continue to adopt social media to communicate with citizens, shape their public image, and enhance their policing role. The information posted by individuals on social media platforms every day provides permanent, researchable, and accessibility to details of private occurrences, especially when criminals brag about what they have done (Walsh & O’Connor, 2018). Police can also use content from social media to supplement other material evidence. Online platforms provide law enforcement officers with virtual cover, facilitating remote, undetectable, and anonymous surveillance. Social media increases the possibility of mass surveillance because the technology promotes a new way of collecting data (Walsh & O’Connor, 2018). Citizens can, on the other hand, utilize the same platforms to expose and discuss perceived injustices perpetrated by police officers, impacting policing activities. Therefore, effective utilization of social media will enhance policing activities.
The adoption of social media in law enforcement agencies seems to be transforming the way police officers communicate with citizens. Walsh and O’Connor (2018) indicate that policing agencies have embraced sites such as Twitter and Facebook to produce news and broadcast them instead of relying on mass media to engage the public. Policing departments can use digital platforms to host formal question and answer sessions, providing a channel for the citizens to participate in virtual consultations with police officers and offer their feedback. Such approaches promote information sharing and partnership, enhancing police-community relations as well as enforcement. The application of social media in policing can further allow the dissemination of information about risks and encourage citizens to act in ways that minimize insecurity. Thus, social media is a tool that will continue making policing work easier and improving police-community relations.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and robots will significantly transform the work of policing. An expansion of the internet of things (IoT) means that more data will be generated, collected, and analyzed in the future. While this data will be incredibly valuable in policing, deriving actionable insights from using humans will be time-consuming and costly. However, the adoption of AI will do the work efficiently and help in crime forecasting (United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, 2019). Police officers may have trouble investigating some potential crime scenes, especially those deemed too dangerous. The development of sophisticated robotic cameras will be instrumental in collecting and delivering surveillances information from such areas that may compromise human safety. Indeed, robotic cameras and AI will make policing work easier and more efficient.
Enhanced body-worn cameras and drones are other technological advancements that will continue revolutionizing the work of policing. The role of body-worn cameras in collecting evidence when law enforcement officers are operating cannot be disputed. The gathered information can use for further investigation and in a court of law. The development of such cameras with sophisticated features such as resistance to extreme environmental conditions, clear audio, higher resolution, and wider fields of view will facilitate effective surveillance (Escamilla & Reichert, 2019). Police officers use drones to monitor crowds, promote search and rescue efforts, and gain aerial footage of crime scenes. Advanced models of these devices can be equipped with software that offers surveyed areas’ GPS-enhanced precisions. Consequently, police surveillance in different regions will be more effective than ever.
Conclusion
Conclusively, technological advancement is the most important factor that will significantly influence policing in the future. Law enforcement agencies have been adopting various technologies to improve their work. Social media promotes new ways of collecting evidential information and will enhance police-citizen relations. Robotic cameras and AI will facilitate the investigation of areas that compromise human officers’ safety and crime forecasting. Enhanced body-worn cameras and drones will ensure effective and efficient surveillance.
References
Escamilla, J., & Reichert, J. (2019). An overview of police technology: Adoption and efficacy [Ebook] (pp. 1-10).
United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute. (2019). Artificial intelligence and robotics for law enforcement. Unicri.it.
Walsh, J., & O’Connor, C. (2018). Social media and policing: A review of recent research. Sociology Compass, 13(1), 1-14.