Police ‘empires’ and information technologies: uncovering material and organisational barriers to information sharing in Canadian police services

Abstract

Information sharing and collaborative policing have become hot topics within policing circles, especially in the wake of such horrific events as school shootings and multiple murder cases. In response to growing concerns over inadequate information sharing and integrated policing, police organisations are actively centralising their services through the implementation of shared technologies (such as computer aided dispatch systems and record management systems). Drawing on interviews and participation observation within two technologically similar Canadian police services, we uncover the material, social and organisational barriers to information sharing and integrated policing. We conclude by arguing that technological anomalies arising from materiality and organisational practices uncovers a critical functional disconnect between the design and patrol officer use of information technologies.