A quantitative study of the law enforcement in using open source intelligence techniques through undergraduate practical training

Abstract

Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) is an important and powerful approach that law enforcement agencies can use to guide an investigation. In many organizations, there are significant barriers to the adoption of effective OSINT techniques, as well as a failure to adapt fast enough to emerging technologies. A cultural change from training duration to actual investigations is needed to elevate the status of OSINT techniques and ensure that they are used to their full potential. In this study, we investigated the police students' use of OSINT investigation methods and techniques, and then tried to find answers to how these techniques were used and whether this contributed to increasing the clearance rate in the cases they investigated. The paper presented the results of the survey of 213 students from the Bachelor of Policing program at Norwegian Police University College. The survey has presented what the students learned about OSINT techniques from their program and highlight findings in using OSINT investigation methods and techniques during practical training at educational institutes. Results showed that training OSINT skills are perceived as a satisfactory starting point. Results also showed that techniques around people's searches on social networks and the internet are most frequently used. In addition, through the analysis of survey results, it shows that very few police students use all phases of the OSINT investigation methods.