Policing With Social Media

On average UK adults spend 13 minutes of every hour online using social media. Popular platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are used to communicate, express emotion and intent, share media, and publish locations by 'checking in'. British police forces have a presence on social media; with over 850,000 likes on Facebook. However there is room to extend this presence and harness the power of social media by deploying it more consistently.

Recent surveys show that public confidence in the police has steadily declined, despite a fall in crime levels, over the last 30 years. This is despite falling crime levels. Confidence is difficult for the police to control and influence: the media, politics and external factors such as the economic climate have a significant impact on public perception. The police can influence public confidence and perception using social media tools. Communicating messages to the public through their favourite channels, marketing stories of