Police Technophobia

This book endeavors to discover a new trait of police culture ¿ technophobia ¿ that I have observed as a police officer and embarked upon this project to unearth its raison d¿eter. I have found that there are five main universal causes of police fear of not using technology especially information and communication technology (ICT). In the first place, cop culture has a pet aversion to the learning of new skills and information sharing; secondly, ICT has lead to the erosion of police discretion and the idea of ¿real police work¿; thirdly, information technology has enhanced organizational accountability; fourthly, ICT has lead to the civilianization/ pluralization of police work and lastly, ICT has created new hierarchies and job structures. Understanding of police technophobia is important for police leaders and other public safety professionals as it has wide range operational and policy implications. The new security environment has redefined policing as an ¿information brokering service¿. And the post 9/11 and other world counter terrorism scenarios has ushered in an era of multilatralization and pluralization of policing and the police.