In the modern day, the succesful running of an organisation depends on many different factors. Increasingly social media is also becoming one of the major factors in how the public precieve an organisation. Thats especially true when you are running a police department. Modern police departments are beginning to rely more on more on social media for a variety of different reasons. One of the main reasons is the psychological factors tied to social media , By maintaing a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Youtube the police department becomes humanised. It also allows a police force to connect more freely with the public and converse with the public, It can also help with general police work, Forces use social media to respond to tips and to stay up to date with whats going on in the locality in which the police force operates.
Social media and police work can work hand in hand , In a 2013 survey it was found that over 96% of police forces in the US use social media in some form and over 80% of those have said that the use of social media has assited in the solving of crimes in there locality and 73% said that it helped build relations between the poilce force and the public.Like many things social media can be a double edged sword and with a job as responcible as police work forces need to know how to use social media in a responcible ethical matter. Many questions have been risen over what a police force can publish online and what they cant. Prince Gerorge county police in , Maryland in the US caused controversy when they planned to live tweet a sting operation , The sting operation was to target men soliciting prostitituion and concerns were raised over the privacy infringement that would be imposed upon those who are apprehended in the raid.
On the other hand the NYPD took to the streets of New York to inspire people to have there photos taken with officers of the NYPD. The photos, which were uploaded to Facebook and Twitter under the hashtag #myNYPD were taken to help strengthen the bond between the department and the people of New York which had become frayed over time due to allegations of Police brutality in the past , This goodwill mission was moderately successful however other outlets saw it as being a huge failure due to a continuation of negative press following the campaign and te continuing unrest over allegations of police brutality in the states.
Police forces dont just use Facebook and Twitter however, Mountain View PD used Pinterest as a lost and found and posted up items that were handed in, in an effort to quickly and efficiently reunite people with there lost property.
Like in many other walks of life the rise of social media is being embraced by Law Enforcement. They are using it to prevent crime and to build bridges with the communities they protect. By using social media they are making there jobs easier and more efficient and at the same time they are making themselves seem that bit more Human which from a PR point of view is very very important.
References
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233604
http://www.police-foundation.org.uk/publications/briefings/police-use-of-social-media
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