WE’RE watching you.
That’s the message from Cheshire Constabulary who have revealed how police use social networking sites like Facebook in investigating serious crime and monitoring community concerns.
A Freedom of Information response shows that last year 16 senior officers and detectives took part in two day-long workshops on how social media can impact on investigations, public order incidents and community engagement.
PC Shelley Williams, of Cheshire Police, explained: “In terms of serious crime, the monitoring of social networking sites provides an awareness of community concerns, but can also be a useful intelligence gathering tool for the investigating officers when comments are placed on a social networking site.
“For example, a comment on Facebook concerning a crime can lead to police identifying vital witnesses.”
PC Williams said officers could also gain an understanding of ongoing issues within a neighbourhood.
She explained: “Police sporadically monitor some social networking sites to understand the concerns and needs of the community and tackle a particular problem.
“It is sometimes the case that a localised problem – eg spate of anti social behaviour or vandalism is not reported to the police but is discussed on social networking sites, and it is for this reason that police can have an awareness of issues that are of concern to the public that they serve, and deal with the problem appropriately.”
Cheshire police uses Facebook and Twitter to communicate with the public. Even the Cheshire police helicopter ‘tweets’ to let people know what incidents it has been attending.
PC Williams added: “The monitoring of social networking sites can also be a valuable tool for the police to assess and address community tensions, and to relay key messages and help dispel rumour or supposition.”
