LAW

Trends are currently affecting policing

Trends are currently affecting policing

Introduction

The world is experiencing widespread changes. These changes caused by some trends which have engulfed almost every institution. In the sphere of policing, due to many modern trends, enormous changes are coming such as the latest technology, advancement in research and development and changing life and work style due to advanced communication. Keeping in view the current trends in policing there are many foreseeable critical issues such as, changing societal values aggravating social and environmental problems due to prolongation of urbanization and vanishing of work ethics. There are certain changes required in order to tackle these critical issues like creating a sense of awareness of self surveillance in public, coordination among the international community to eradicate societal and environmental dangers and defining work ethics to preserve them.

Discussion

What are the trends are currently affecting policing

Accelerated arrival of modern technology is at the top of the causes which are affecting the policing. The rapid growth of technological advancements is continuously increasing social irresponsibility and developing fear, allowing terrorist and criminals to innovate the new methods and opportunities which demands advanced tools for police agencies to restrict them. In almost every part of the world, technology is sweeping out conventional working techniques before people can become habitual to the new opportunities available to them. Immense burden has been a shift to police agencies to adapt the new technology.

There are not enough trained, skilled, and knowledgeable law enforcers who can tackle problems based in current technology—identity (Osborne). (Cetron, 2008)

Advancement in research and development is yet another trend, which is currently affecting the policing. The multitude new high tech tools are giving a hard time to police agencies. Proper training has become mandatory to use these high tech tools effectively. Resultantly, due to the majority of untrained police official the budget used for the high tech tools is going in vain. The traditional style of working of police agencies is also changing due to this trend; hence, more inadaptability of police officer with the latest technology.

The trend of changing patterns of life and work style due to the advancement in communication is also contributing to be the major affecting trend. The result of depending on outdated systems of communication during major incidents like September 11 and Katrina have already been experienced painfully. Modern communication system has also made it easy for criminal organization to coordinate effectively. Modernization in cryptography can enhance the security check which will restrict the usage of internet and other means of communication.

Foreseeable critical issues that may affect policing in future

Along with the advantages there are also some foreseeable critical issues due to the emerging trends in policing. These critical issues cover many areas some of them are further elaborated. Changing Societal Values is one of the fundamental issues. The industrialization is growing rapidly and literacy rate is increasing, due to which there is a gradual change in attitude among man power. Reaction against the violation of cultural values is one of the main practices ...