Police Chat This Afternoon + A Ramble

I watched the discussion on Police Chat this afternoon just because I wanted to know what it was all about.

I am still disappointed that Warwickshire Police don't appear to be participating. 

However I did have a breakthrough and found that the Warwickshire Police Authority are actually tucked away on Twitter and Face book but they are a bit shy in coming forward and its not quite the same as having people on the coal face Tweeting.

Of course the argument quite rightly is the Police should be Policing and not spending time Tweeting.

However if you really break it down the job of the Police is to prevent crime and solve crime as quickly as possible. Of course with limited resources its getting harder and harder to do. Like the rest of us a Police Person can only be in one place at one time.

So what has social media got to do with it all? Whether we like it or not social media is a part of our times and it is a way of reaching many people Free Of Charge and at the click of a button.

Social Media is available on many mobile phones which many people carry with them. Just imagine at the press of a button and a quick Tweet you could have doubled your eyes and ears in any given area. You start interacting with your community and your community start interacting back.

I really do think Social Media can be of help to any of our Public Services. It is quite simply a different way of reaching the General Public and informing them, making them aware and involving them.


As for the discussion this afternoon these are my thoughts as a member of the public.

1. How is social media changing the management of communication around Events.
   a) For those organising such events the message reaches 1000's for good or bad reasons. If it for bad reasons then the Police need to be able to recognise it and prevent it. There is only one way to do that! There should be a cyber presence.
   
   
2. What elements can be harnessed to benefit the policing?
   a) Short timley updates
   b) Keep the innocent public updated and out of the way (Giving them the opportunity to make Informed decisions)
   c) The only way to do that is via a Cyber presence
   d) Photography
   e) Videos

3. Should the concerns about social media prevent police using it for large events. 
   a) I can only guess what the concerns are! I would imagine it would be     tatical type information or the possibility of being disinformed when planning tactical stuff.
   b) I doubt very much a Police Officer in the front line will have time to say to a violent protester. Stop what your doing let me Tweet it via my mobile phone.
   c) Therefore what ever the concerns are about Social Media being used for such events they should be taken seriously.
   d) I don't think Police should be prevented from using Social Media at such events however should Social Media be used there should be a lock down on what information is given on the Social Channels.
   
   
   Would you expect HM Forces to Tweet their next tactical move in what ever campaign? Like hell would I. I don't expect it from our Police Force either. What I do expect is the ability for people in charge to be accountable for their decisions if ever they should be asked. 
   
   
4. How does the operational and communication use work together? 
   a) I could not possibly answer as I haven't got anything to do with any Police Force. Except to be a resident of a Police Forces area that don't participate are very formal and authoritarian when the do occasionally appear on line.