Social media has become a central part of many people's lives. Businesses rely heavily on sites such as Facebook to promote their services and extend their reach. While most of us are accepting of Facebook's role in personal lives and in business what about as a tool for the police?
"A police Facebook page is nabbing up to five Northland criminals a week, and notching up a success rate of about 95 per cent, according to a senior Far North officer.
The page was often used to identify suspects captured on security cameras. The current record of two and a half hours was held by a Mangonui woman who was caught on CCTV as she allegedly shoplifted at a supermarket, while the biggest response to date followed the June 29 aggravated robbery of a Kaitaia bakery. That Facebook post was viewed 15,000 times, three times the population of Kaitaia, and was widely shared on social media. It too led to an arrest.
A post last week about a shoplifting incident led to 5150 views, 44 comments and three calls to Crimestoppers. The offender called police within four hours after hearing her photo was on Facebook, Senior Sergeant McLellan said.
Police were also hopeful that CCTV images shared on social media would led to the men who broke in to a Kaikohe supermarket, taking seven packets of mallowpuffs but causing considerable damage as they smashed their way inside.
Facebook did have its downside though. Police continually monitored the page for derogatory comments and were mindful of individuals' privacy. Posts were removed as soon as a wanted person was caught or came forward.
When police were looking for people subject to arrest they would try known addresses and other leads before posting names and photos on Facebook.
Some users left comments saying police should "do their own job" rather than using Facebook, but Senior Sergeant McLellan said social media was just one part of policing's future. Police were also investing heavily in technology such as iPhones and iPads to share information quickly and reduce the amount of time spent on paperwork. They were also using Facebook to offer crime prevention advice and reunite owners with stolen property."
www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=11326948 What do you think? Should we accept this as the 'modern' way to catch criminals? It seems effective.
But is it Ok to publish videos of people who have not been arrested and found guilty?
What happens to historic Facebook posts of people later found to be innocent. What happens to deleted Facebook data?
Image:
i4.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article4073717.ece/alternates/s615/Police-2.jpgIt is proposed that the police should continue to use Facebook to apprehend suspected criminals