ABSTRACT
This study examined the
impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in operation and
detection/ control of property crimes. One of the basic functions of every
government is the protection of lives and properties. Hence, it is the sole
responsibility of the formal police structures to see to this objective and the
problem of crime has become acute that the police force as a government
apparatus has no choice other than to employ the use of technologies to curb
crime. This study was positioned to evaluate the use of Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) in property crimes detection and controls by the
police in Abuja Municipal Area Council. The sample size for the study comprised
of two hundred (240) respondents cutting across (140) members of the police
force and (100) members of the public. The sampling technique for the study was
the multistage sampling technique. The structured questionnaire and in-depth
interview (IDI) served as the instruments of data collection. The findings from
the study therefore revealed that the utilization of ICT by the police in
property crimes detection and control has been significantly felt within the
Abuja Municipal Area Council. The study therefore recommends proactive
strategies to effect a change in the attitude of police and police organizational
structure to accommodate ICT in their schemes.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background of the Study
The
major law enforcement agency, police have been recognized as an important part
of the state administration. Police is the major player to give greatest
security to the public by controlling the crimes and maintenance of law and
order. In the ancient times the major job of the police personnel was to
maintain law and order and establish the sovereignty of the state. (Chaturbedi,
2006) Police is the state subject thereby, making state governments responsible
for maintaining law and order and preventing crime. In modern times due to the process
of liberalization, privatization and globalization the police force is facing
the new challenges.
The
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has been trying to operate a means to ensure that
the internal security of the country is maintained, but in spite of this
effort, there appears to be growing uncertainty in public order, as reports of
high crime rate such as armed robbery, assassination, kidnapping and child
trafficking seem to be on the increase (Punch Newspaper, May 29, 2009, Pg. 7).
With increasing anxieties of the fast growing cities and slums full of poor,
anonymous and potentially dangerous classes, it has been argued that the police
hardly see itself as the law enforcer and the defender of the society against
lawbreakers. As such, this is responsible for the public criticism of the
inability of the police to fight crime in the society, as the police morale has
also been dampened over the years.There is no doubt that the need for technologies
to help the police fight crime can never be over-emphasized as the relationship
between both the police and technologies goes a long way in the determination
of the achievement and sustainability of their ultimate goals, and also, the
success and well-being of the nation at large. The role of technology in police
institutions and police practices has long been recognized as relevant and
ambivalent (Ogunbameru, 2008). Technological advances are particularly relevant
for policing because they are seen to influence the organization and practices
of police in the ways that intimately connect to the police function of crime
control. New and more efficient means of crime detection, communication among
police, and police transportation, all these influence how successful police is
doing its job as a group of crime fighters, and additionally affecting the
level of legitimacy police receive from the public and relevant bodies of
governments (Simon, 2004).
Striking
a more general theme of societal modernization in the development of policing, police’s
reliance on technology generates some tension between demands for effective
crime control on the one hand, and a continued and revived focus on issues of
justice and rights, on the other hand. The increasing use of technology in
police institutions was virtually synonymous with advancing progress and
civilization. However, soon after technologies were introduced and applied by
police, suspicions also mounted against an excessive and unbalanced reliance on
technology. In particular, civil-liberation currents sought to curb
technologically driven police practices that were motivated by a blind reliance
on the often assumed, but largely unproven merits of technologies at the
expense of concerns of civil rights and constitutional demands of due process.
The tension between a need for efficacy in crime control and the recognition
and respect for citizen and human rights has remained a central topic of
controversy since when technologies were applied in policing.
The
new “information imperative” for police organizations would have been impossible
to satisfy only a decade ago, but it is now feasible because of affordable
advances in information technology and the intense pressure on police to detect
threats in advance. While we can expect more tactical and strategic changes in
the near future as diverse forms of technology take center stage today, the
largest influence on police decision making has come from data mining systems.
Based
on the premises above the study intends to investigate the how information and communication technology
have improved the securing life and property responsibilities of the police.
1.2
Statement of Problem
We
are in the era of law enforcement where ICT and other advanced technologies are
becoming a powerful tool for responding to criminals, engaging in hotspots
policing, solving violent crimes, monitoring employees’ performance and many
other functions. The introduction if this new methods of technology has been a
blessing and a curse to the police and other security agencies in performing
their protection of life and property. Because the so called law committers are
also indulging in the usage of the technology to boycott the hands of the law
through the manipulation of the security officials (Wardman & Allison.
2004) Technologies, such as video cameras, data mining systems, heat sensors,
biometrics, GPS tracking, Internet and telecommunication systems are being used
for the detection, investigation, prosecution and prevention of crime in the
law enforcement community. As it did in the middle of the 20th
century, technology is beginning to alter the nature of policing and to impact
on the management and delivery of police services. Emerging models of policing
in the 21st century demand accurate real-time information for strategic
planning, problem analysis, deployment decisions, community interface,
inter-organizational communication, accountability, threat detection and many
other functions (Simon, 2004). Based on the dual premises of being a blessing
and a curse the study will fill the gap by enquiring into impact of information
and technology on the operations of the police in Nigeria.
1.3 Objective of the Study
This
study intends to investigate the impact of information and technology on the
detention and protection of property and crimes. The specific objectives
include;
1. To
identify the various information and communication gadgets that has aided the
operations of the police in Nigeria
2. Examine
the negative effects of information and communication technology on the operation
of the police
3. To
mirror out the benefit of information and communication technology in the
maintenance of law and order through the use of the police.
1.4 Research Questions
1. What
are the various information and communication gadgets that has aided the
operations of the police in Nigeria?
2. What
are the negative effect of information and communication technology on the operation
of the police?
3. What
are the benefit information and communication technology has fostered between
the citizen and police in the community.
1.5 Research Hypotheses
H0=
Information and communication technology has no effect on police operations
H1=
Information and communication technology has effect on police operations
1.6 Significance of the Study
The
study will be of significance to the following stakeholder; Police, Law
enforcement agencies and the citizens in the community.
The
police will from the findings of this study, be able to know importance of
information and communication technology in the course of their chosen field of
engagement. The police will be able to improve on the use of the nearest
information and communication gadgets that the society which they reside in,
has the capacity to use.
The
Law enforcement agencies will from this study be able to the relevance of
information and communication technology in attaining their desired goals and
aim in the course of discharging their duties in various security units.
The
society will from the findings be able to know the importance of information
and communication technology in the course of reporting crime.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The
study will employ the descriptive survey design. The study will use the
questionnaire, to source for information from the respondent which will be
police officers and populace in various police station and environment in Abuja
Municipal Area Council. The study will employ the descriptive and percentage to
illustrate the primary data collected from the respondent.
1.8 Definition of Term
Police: This
are the law enforcement agencies in the society that aid in the protection of
life and property
Information and Communication: This
is conveying of an idea to a recipient through a medium
Technology: This
is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially
in organization.