NEW MEDIA AND CRIME CONTROL: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

This study assessed the effect of new media in crime control with emphasis on assessing its challenges and prospects in Uyo Urban. To achieve this, four specific purposes were designed. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study consists of all the 1506 police personnel in the five police stations in Uyo Urban out of which a sample of 200 respondents was selected for the study. The study adopted mixed approach consisting of qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection. Quantitatively, data were collected using questionnaire while qualitative data were collected with semi-structured interview guide. The data collected were analysed based on research questions raised using simple percentage for research question1 and mean score research question 2, 3 and 4. The results revealed that Facebook was the most utilized new media (68%) for crime control in Uyo Urban closely followed by WhatsApp (53%) and E-mail (44.5%). Also, the results indicate that the extent of utilization of new media in crime control in Uyo Urban by the security ersonnel (Police Officers) is low. Nevertheless, it was shown that new media has remarkable impact in providing swift avenue for gathering intelligence as well as enhancing the chances of offenders’ apprehension among others. However, many factors were categorized as challenging the effectiveness of new media though the major ones were lack of training for the security personnel in the use of new media in crime control followed by lack of approval by the police investigation department for personnel to utilize the platforms for crime control. It is against this backdrop that the researcher recommends security personnel should be routinely trained on the innovativeness and utilization of new media in crime control.