Preventing and Combating Cybercrimes: Case of Cybercrimes Investigation Unit of Tanzania Police

Abstract

The study was conducted at the cybercrimes investigation unit of Tanzania Police Force. The study investigates the current situation of Tanzania Police Force on combating and preventing cybercrimes in Tanzania and examine the effect of the current legal framework governing them on preventing and combating cybercrime. The study used a sample size of 86 respondents from cybercrimes investigation unit at Tanzania Police Force. Data collection was done by using interview guide and questionnaire. The data was analysed by using multiple regression model and thematic analysis for quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The findings show that, Cybercrimes in Tanzania is on high rate as justified by the respondents regarding on number of reported cases of cybercrimes in Dar es Salaam despite of effort shown by Police Force to battle this problem. It was also found that a unit increases in technological capability of Police Force lead to significant decreases in preventing and combating cybercrimes. Furthermore, the results show that, other things remain constant, a unit increase in the current legal framework governing the Police Force lead to significant decrease of effort on preventing and combating cybercrimes. Therefore, it is recommended that there is a need for the Police Force to invest more in acquiring new technologies well as providing continuous public awareness of cybercrimes. Also cybercrime act of 2015 as well as legal and regulatory compliances governing all cybercrimes stakeholders to be reviewed so that can enable Police Force to perform their duties of preventing and combating cybercrimes efficiently.