Ghana Police Research Articles

Cybercrime in Ghana and Victims Accounts

The main thrust of the study was to examine how cybercrime victims are being lured into virtual space by scammers and later swindled. Qualitative research method was advanced to explore the dynamics of cybercrime activities in Ghana. Secondary data were sourced from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service. Purposive sampling technique was outlined to engage with the respondents. Structured interview guide was considered as a data collection instrument. In the data analysis, each of the in-depth interviews was transcribed as soon as the information was gathered and developed into codes. Six (6) internet victims took part in the study. The investigation revealed that people become internet victims as a result of unrealistic profit ventures, online romance, raffle schemes, America green card lottery and rent apartment deals. Out of the six cases, only one culprit was imprisoned and even the approach was conventional policing strategy considering the volatile nature of the cybercrime related offences. It was concluded from the discussions that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) should create public awareness about the social and economic consequences of cybercrime activities in the country. The education should further emphasize on the social engineering tactics employed by the conmen to dupe their client on the internet.
 
 Received: 8 March 2022 / Accepted: 25 April 2022 / Published: 5 May 2022

Red-light-running in a Ghanaian metropolis

BackgroundRed-light-running (RLR) is a major cause of road traffic crashes in Ghana. Yet, there is limited scientific research on RLR in Ghana. This study employed the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and logistic regression models to understand RLR behaviour in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. An understanding of such behaviour would enable the design of behavioural and technological interventions including change communications and nudges to pro-driver behaviours. MethodsA naturalistic exploratory road-side observational design of drivers at three (3) signalized intersections in the Cape Coast Metropolis was conducted from 17th-23rdApril, 2021. A structured observational checklist was used to collect data on motorists in two (2) phases (7:00–9:00 am and 3:00–5:00 pm) each day for seven (7) days at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Pedu Junction and Interbeton Junction traffic light intersections. Data captured included RLR, gender, age group of the driver, type of vehicle, and presence of other passengers. Data was entered and analyzed using STATA IC version 15. Bivariate and Multivariable Logistic regression analysis was done at p < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval. ResultsA total of 5,045 motorists were observed at three (3) traffic lights within the seven (7) days with the majority being male (94.4%), aged 25–45 years (77.4%), and on a Friday (18.6%). A low rate of RLR (13.3%) [Pedu Junction traffic lights (15.1%), UCC (12.7%) and Interbeton Junction (10.8%)] in the metropolis. Drivers entering the UCC Gate-Campus were 1.54 times more likely to engage in RLR than were those leaving campus, and vehicles without passengers were 1.27 times more likely to engage in RLR, compared to those with one or more passengers. Motorists were less likely to make an RLR offence on weekdays as compared to Saturday. ConclusionThe officials of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and Motor Transport and Traffic Department of the Ghana Police Service should educate drivers on the danger associated with RLR and arrest and prosecute errant ones to serve as a deterrent.

How effective are police road presence and enforcement in a developing country context?

Traffic enforcement and associated penalties are essential in any successful road safety strategy. Available literature identifies both traditional and automated traffic enforcement. Ghana employs traditional traffic enforcement involving visible police officers enforcing traffic rules and regulations on the roadways. This phenomenological study explores the perceived effectiveness of police road presence as a road safety strategy in the Ghanaian context. Data for the analysis came from in-depth interviews of 42 people recruited as a convenience sample (comprising 25 commercial drivers, 12 private drivers, and five traffic police officers of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service). The study results suggest widespread driver road tactics to outwit the traffic police officers, police extortion and driver bribery (road traffic corruption), and punishment avoidance. These behaviours undermine deterrence and negate the seriousness and expected general deterrent effect of the police road presence and enforcement. This study provides an initial exploration of the effectiveness (or otherwise) of police road presence and enforcement in the context of a developing country. Additional studies are, however, needed to explore this phenomenon further.

Socio-legal needs of rape and defilement victims: Beyond punishment

Ghana passed the Domestic Violence Act in the year 2007 despite pockets of resistance from some conservatives who thought the act will endanger family life and lead to a high divorce rate. A special unit within the Ghana Police Service called the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) was established to handle all cases under the Act. The law prescribes custodial punishment for suspects upon conviction. However, data collected from secondary sources, through key informants and in-depth interviews show that most cases of rape and defilement are withdrawn for settlement which is against the law. Most often, the victims who are not financially endowed are forced to accept settlement outside the courts or withdraw from the court processes, which often do not inure to their benefits. The Act and the establishment of DOVVSU have improved access to justice for rape and defilement victims, however, some critical issues need to be addressed to ensure that victims of sexual offences are well catered for. It is in connection with this that the paper seeks to highlight some of the conditions confronting victims of sexual violence and what must be done to mitigate these challenges. Prominent among these challenges is the poor financial status of the victims which makes them succumb to the pressure of out-of-court settlement. It is recommended that the government and other stakeholders review the justice system/processes for rape and defilement victims to ensure that they are not forced by circumstances to withdraw from the court processes to accept other settlement options which are not in consonance with the law.&#x0D;

Medico-legal and ethical issues of necrophilia: A Ghanaian perspective

In February 2018, a video of a mortuary attendant touching and fondling two dead bodies at the Bechem hospital morgue, in the Ahafo Region of Ghana, was leaked on various social media platforms nationwide. In the video, the mortuary attendant was allegedly touching and fondling the naked corpses of the late Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, popularly known as Ebony Reigns, and her friend. The video triggered public disapproval. Consequently, the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Health Service initiated investigations into the matter. The family, and manager of the late dancehall artiste, also indicated their plans to file an action against the hospital where the video was taken. The incident gave rise to ethical and medico-legal issues such as the position of Ghanaian law on necrophilia, the legal status of a dead person, the liabilities, rights and interests of all affected parties connected to a dead person, and the ethical aspects of necrophilia within the Ghanaian society. These issues are the subject of this paper.

Profile of Victims of Neighbourhood Crimes in Ghanaian Cities

Generally, urban crime research in Ghana is non-ambiguous on the socio-cultural, political economy and environmental ramifications of neighbourhood crimes in emerging cities, but the personal and neighbourhood level characteristics of the most likely victims of neighbourhood crime in Ghanaian cities remain meagre. This paper fills the gap in knowledge by answering the question ‘who/where is the most likely victim of crime in urban Ghana?’ This study employed a sequential mixed methods approach to collect data through the administration of a household survey, as well as focus group discussion (FDG) sessions. The survey data were analysed using binary logistic regression while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that socio-demographic characteristics, which are associated with a higher likelihood of victimisation, include young unemployed persons, residents of a detached or ‘self-contained’ apartment, household of increasing household size, residents of neighbourhoods with less police visibility and residents of unsafe neighbourhoods. Cognisance of the limited capacity of the Ghana Police Service, this study recommends the need for the Ghana Police Service to consider neighbourhood demographic characteristics in their efforts to enhance distributive justice in the provision of internal security.

Promoting urban security through community participation: evidence from Wa, Ghana

Crime remains one of the major threats to urban communities in Ghana. Ostensibly, the hitherto approach in crime control had been targeting statutory institutions, notably the Ghana Police Service, to the neglect of community level participation, which has become critical due to the increase in crime levels and manpower challenges facing the law enforcement agencies. Against this background, this paper examined how community members contribute to the promotion of security in Wa, a cosmopolitan community in the Upper West Region of Ghana, which often escapes official reports. Forty-three (43) community crime control actors in addition to three key informants were selected purposely in a case study design. Primary data were gathered through interviews and focus group discussions. The study found that community actors complement the efforts of the police by supplying relevant information on crime and offenders resulting in the arrest and prosecution of offenders in the law courts; providing logistical support such as motorbikes and fuel to the police; arresting and handing over suspected criminals to the police; engaging the services of private security operatives; as well as undertaking community patrols often known as ‘neighbourhood watch’. Given the critical role of citizens in crime prevention and control, and the promotion of communities’ safety, the paper recommends that the police should periodically organise workshops to educate community members on modern crime trends and strategies so as to improve their skills in crime control and detection.

An Assessment of the Effect of Gender on Employee Performance in Ghana Police Service: Controlling for Key Confounding Variables

There is the notion that females are less productive on security jobs because they are relatively weaker. In this study therefore, the effect of gender on employee performance is tested, with key variables (i.e., rank and work experience) controlled for. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data from 151 each of randomly selected male and female police officers. The T-test, simple linear regression and partial correlation test were used to present findings. The study shows that there is no difference between the performance of male and female police officers. Yet rank and work experience significantly influence the relationship between gender and work experience. The study recommends measures for empowering both males and females in Ghana Police Service.

Making Cities Resilient in Ghana: The Realities of Slum Dwellers That Confront the Accra Metropolitan Assembly

Over the past three decades, various countries and stakeholders have aimed at having cities&amp;nbsp;that can better handle natural and human-made disasters, protect human life, absorb the impact of economic, environmental and social hazards and promote well-being, inclusive and sustainable growth. This paper investigates how informal ties result in in-filling and the creation of slums in the context of efforts to make cities resilient in Ghana using the Accra Metropolis as case study. The United Nations Habitat classification of slums was used to purposively select two slum settlements in Accra for the study. The study used mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative approaches to collect data from April 2018 to August 2018. Quantitative data was collected from 400 slum dwellers while qualitative data was collected from eight focus group discussion sessions and in-depth interviews with at least one senior official from related institutions such as Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), Ministry of Works and Housing (MWH), Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development (MICZD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Police Service, and Ghana National Fire Service. Descriptive techniques were used for the analysis. The findings are that informal ties contribute to in-filling in slums. Slum dwellers do not plan to return home, they are not involved in land use decision making and the slums have opportunities and challenges to the slum dwellers and AMA. The AMA should avoid forced eviction of slums and rather enforce development control bye-laws, implement slum upgrading programs, and involve slum dwellers in upgrading programs. Slum dwellers must cooperate with AMA to make Accra resilient. The mainstreaming of the issue of slums in all urban development agendas needs to be given the needed political and policy attention by central government and all stakeholders.

Barriers to the enforcement of mandatory seat belt laws in Ghana: an exploratory study.

Road traffic accidents claim millions of lives every year across the world. Fortunately, effective safety and preventive measures such as routine maintenance of vehicles and roads and the use of seat belts exist. Yet, authorities in some countries fail to enforce laws on these measures. One of the barriers to compliance with traffic laws is poor enforcement. Using a cross-sectional study design, we explored the barriers to the enforcement of mandatory seat belt laws in Ghana. We employed an open-ended key informant interview guide to interview 26 staff of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, National Road Safety Authority and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority. The interviews which lasted between 30 and 45 min per session were analysed through a thematic approach facilitated by ATLAS.ti. The findings showed that the barriers to the enforcement of seat belt laws mentioned by the participants were institutional factors (inadequate resources and logistics and inability to enforce vehicle safety standards) political factors (external interference and lack of consensus on seat belt law implementation) and human factors (poor public attitudes and non- recognition of road safety as both individual and collective responsibility). The enforcement of road safety laws could be enhanced by adequately resourcing officers, addressing external interference of police duties and empowering officers to perform their duties without fear or favour. These findings are also useful in continuous public education and enhanced enforcement of the seat belt laws.

Driver compliance and pedestrian safety at zebra crossings in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

ABSTRACT Vehicle-pedestrian interactions predispose pedestrians to road traffic crashes because of the importance of pedestrian trips for geographical mobility and spatial interaction which may be effectively reduced by zebra crossings. This study guided by the Safe System Approach assessed drivers’ compliance and pedestrian safety at zebra crossings in the Cape Coast Metropolis. The study investigation data were from observational checklists and pedestrian crash data from the Building and Road Research Institute. Findings showed that 336 pedestrian crashes were recorded between 2007 and 2016 with 35.4% and 15.2% of the victims being hospitalized or dead respectively. More than 70% of the pedestrian crashes occurred at places, not a junction. The findings further showed that there were 23 zebra crossings in the metropolis with low drivers’ compliance rate. The relevant stakeholders such as the Department of Urban Roads of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, National Road Safety Commission, officials of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department of the Ghana Police Service should identify short- and long-term measures to improve pedestrian safety and driver compliance at zebra crossings in the metropolis.

Assessment of prescribing patterns of antibiotics using National Treatment Guidelines and World Health Organization prescribing indicators at the Ghana Police Hospital: a pilot study.

Introductionirrational or inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics is a major problem in healthcare and leads to antibiotic resistance. There is the need to understand the prescribing patterns and antibiotic stewardship in health facilities to support appropriate antibiotic use. A study was carried out to evaluate prescribing pattern of antibiotics at the Ghana Police Hospital using National Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) and World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators.Methodsa cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the Ghana Police Hospital. Data on prescriptions of antibiotics for both out-patients and in-patients was collected between December 2019 and March 2020. A pretested self-designed tool was used for data collection. All sampled prescriptions were assessed for appropriateness using the STG of 2017 and WHO “AWaRe” classification. The criteria used in assessment included dose, frequency, duration of treatment and choice of antibiotic prescribed for disease condition. Descriptive statistics were used in data analysis.Resultsa total of 184 patient prescriptions (286 antibiotics) were included in this study. Results showed that antibiotics were mostly prescribed for dental and dental-related conditions (20.7%) and obstetric post-delivery prophylaxis (18.1%). Appropriateness of indicators for antibiotics prescribed assessed ranged between 89.2% to 97.6%. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics were metronidazole (25.9%), amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (22.0%), amoxicillin (16.4%) and ciprofloxacin (10.1%). Based on WHO “AWaRe” classification, the “access” group of antibiotics (74%) was the most prescribed, followed by “watch” group (24%). There were no antibiotics prescribed from the “reserve” group of antibiotics and another 2% that was not part of AwaRe classification.Conclusionstudy revealed that the level of appropriateness for prescribing indicators assessed was relatively high and majority of prescribed antibiotics were from the “access” and “watch” group. These observations suggest responsible prescribing of antibiotics at the Ghana Police Hospital and effective antibiotic stewardship should be sustained and improved.

Modern Trends in Ownership and Acquisition of Large-scale Lands in Teshie and Kasoa, Ghana

With the rising urbanisation of some parts of Ghana, the demand for land for various purposes is inevitable. The article assesses current trend of large-scale land acquisition in Teshie and Kasoa. The study used semi-structured interviews to solicit primary data from key informants such as chiefs at Nyanyano-Kasoa and Tsie-We family head at Teshie, land guards, and investors who acquire large scale lands in these areas to identify the trends in such acquisitions between 2014 to 2019.The study uncovered that though there are variations in the nature of land ownership in Teshie and Kasoa, multiple sale of lands, poor land management practices, litigation and land guarding are common practices in both areas. The study found that there is an institutional gap as both the state and traditional institutions have not really done much to deal with the challenges confronting LSLAs in these areas. It is recommended that land owning groups be engaged and educated by the Lands Commission in collaboration with Customary Lands Secretariat on proper ways to manage and sell their lands to avoid multiple sales and the conflicts that it brings. The Ghana police service should crackdown on land guarding which is an illegal activity.&#x0D; Keywords: Large-scale, Land Acquisition, Land Ownership, Customary Land Secretariat, Traditional Authorities

Supporting antimicrobial stewardship in Ghana: evaluation of the impact of training on knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals in two hospitals.

BackgroundA Commonwealth Partnership for Antimicrobial Stewardship was created between the Scottish Antimicrobial Prescribing Group (SAPG), Ghana Police Hospital and Keta Municipal Hospital. During a scoping visit, requirements for implementing antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), areas for improvement and training needs were identified.MethodsA multidisciplinary team from SAPG and health psychologists from The Change Exchange developed and delivered multi-professional evidence-based teaching incorporating behavioural science, supported by partner pharmacists in each hospital. Four sessions were delivered over 2 days to 60 participants across both sites. Before and after the sessions, participants were asked to complete a knowledge quiz and a behaviours survey. Results were analysed using t-tests.ResultsComparison of the participants’ pre- and post-test quiz scores (Keta Municipal Hospital 9.4 and 10.9, Ghana Police Hospital 9.2 and 11.1, respectively) demonstrated statistically significant improvement in knowledge of antimicrobial resistance and appropriate use of antibiotics. Comparison of survey responses before and after the education sessions indicated that the education had a positive impact on participants’ attitudes towards the issue of antimicrobial resistance, their role in AMS and confidence in using the Ghana Standard Treatment Guidelines. Participants were also more likely to question colleagues about compliance with guidelines. Forty-eight participants (80%) completed a training evaluation and all responded positively.ConclusionsThe education sessions appeared to be successful in improving knowledge and behaviours of hospital staff. Cascade of an abbreviated version of the training by partner pharmacists and AMS teams in Ghana will ensure that all staff have the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge to support AMS.

Developing a Sustainable Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Programme in Ghana: Replicating the Scottish Triad Model of Information, Education and Quality Improvement.

(1) Background: Our aim was to develop robust and reliable systems for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in Keta Municipal Hospital and Ghana Police Hospital. Objectives were to build capacity through training staff in each hospital, establish AMS teams, collect data on antibiotic use and support local quality improvement initiatives. (2) Methods: The Scottish team visited Ghana hospitals on three occasions and the Ghanaian partners paid one visit to Scotland. Regular virtual meetings and email communication were used between visits to review progress and agree on actions. (3) Results: Multi-professional AMS teams established and met monthly with formal minutes and action plans; point prevalence surveys (PPS) carried out and data collected informed a training session; 60 staff participated in training delivered by the Scottish team and Ghanaian team cascaded training to over 100 staff; evaluation of training impact demonstrated significant positive change in knowledge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and appropriate antibiotic use as well as improved participant attitudes and behaviours towards AMR, their role in AMS, and confidence in using the Ghana Standard Treatment Guidelines and antimicrobial app. (4) Conclusions: Key objectives were achieved and a sustainable model for AMS established in both hospitals.

Engaging with Methodological Approaches to Training Practices in the Ghana Police Service: Sharing Personal Experience to Benefit Social Researchers

The idea behind this paper is to critically look at the methodological approaches applied to a research work titled ‘Assessment of Training Practices in the Ghana Police Service’. This paper specifically outlined the various methods used in the said research and their justifications. Some of the methodological issues raised in that study are research design, the study area, the target population, sampling techniques and their justifications, data collection instruments, sources of data, data collection procedures, data processing and data analysis and ethical considerations. The paper revealed that descriptive research design is good for the studying of police training practices because it gave a detailed description of the characteristics that was studied. The findings of the study revealed that the mixed method (embedded research design) approach was largely the best in conducting a study like this at the police training schools in Ghana by eliciting appropriate data from both primary and secondary sources and adopting both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Furthermore, it was revealed that questionnaire was the most appropriate data collection tool for interviewing police officers, trainees and trainers and the interview guide was the best data collection tool for interviewing key actors like the commandants and administrators of the police training schools. These two instruments produced the primary data for the study. Quantitative responses were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 whereas the qualitative responses were transcribed and interpreted appropriately. The researcher strictly adhered to the principles of anonymity and confidentiality in order to protect respondents (quantitative) and participants (qualitative) of the research. In conclusion, all these methodologies followed in this research confirmed the complete validity and reliability of research findings and research instruments.

Suicidal Behaviors in the Ghana Police Service.

Background: Despite recent media reports showing disturbing trends of police suicides in Ghana, no published studies are available from the country. Aims: We sought to estimate the prevalence and describe some of the correlates of suicidal behaviors among police officers in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Method: We surveyed a convenience sample of 268 police officers, using the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised to assess suicidal ideation, planning, threat, and attempt. Results: Whereas lifetime suicidal ideation (28%), planning (3%), threat (21.6%), and 12-month suicidal ideation (26.9%) were reported, no participating police officer reported ever attempting suicide. Moonlighting showed the strongest statistically significant association with 12-month suicidal ideation, while age, marital status, and job satisfaction also emerged as statistically significant correlates of suicidal ideation. Limitations: The busy nature of police work precluded random selection. The criminalized and tabooed status of attempted suicide in Ghana might have led participants to provide guarded and socially desirable responses. Conclusion: Intervention efforts are needed to prevent the onset of suicidal ideation and possible transition to suicide among police officers in Ghana.

User satisfaction with ADR services provided by the domestic violence and victims support unit of the Ghana police service

The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service (DOVVSU) prosecute perpetrators of domestic violence. DOVVSU also offers ADR services for domestic violence cases. Focusing on the ADR services at DOVVSU, this paper uses narratives from service users; the survivors and perpetrators of violence who patronized DOVVSU services; to determine their satisfaction with the ADR services. Data for the study was also from personal interviews with a random selection of police service providers. The results revealed, among others, that while service users were generally satisfied with the services provided, some viewed the ADR process as an imposition.

An Overview Of The Police-Public Relationship In Ghana

This article provides an overview of the police-public relationship in Ghana. Based on document analysis and summary of empirical evidence, the article discusses police legitimacy, mob justice, police brutality and violence attacks on the Ghana Police. It further establishes when and how force should be adopted by the Ghana Police thereby categorizing the use of force into excessive force and reasonable force. Recommendations are offered to improve the legitimacy of the Ghana Police Service to foster good relationship between the Ghana Police Service and the public.

A Concept Paper on Police Training Practices in Ghana: Sharing Knowledge to Benefit Novice Researchers

In Ghana and many countries in Africa and beyond, many researchers in various research institutions including some police training institutions are less familiar with police training practices because of the scanty information available on this subject. This paper therefore aims at providing novice researchers with a starting point in becoming more informed when it comes to police training practices. This literature is shared with the aim of providing a basic understanding when it comes to police and their training practices in Ghana. This paper looked at areas like the history of policing, the concept of training, police training practices, philosophy informing police training programme, scope of training in the Ghana Police training academies, efficacy of training, role of policing in Ghana, training methods in the Ghana Police Service and the challenges facing police training academies. Methodologically, the National Police Training School, the Ghana Police Academy and the Winneba Police Command and Staff College were the focus of this paper by providing secondary data to furnish this paper. Also, based on observational evidence at the police training schools, researchers had enough literature to support scholarly evidence. It has been revealed from the review that the most effective teaching and learning method that is used by the police training academies is classroom instruction which is solely delivered in English Language as the medium of instruction [1]. It has also been deduced that lecture method had the largest impact on trainees learning. Also, it was observed that most of the trainees took within 6-8 months to complete their training programme. Finally, it was clear that lack of proper equipment/ logistics, lack of infrastructure, inadequate number of instructors, lack of motivation of instructors, interference in the recruitment process from top-level management, low level of technology, and poor maintenance culture were identified as the major challenges faced by the police training academies. Based on these challenges identified and listed, researchers recommend that Government and other stakeholders of the police service must help to provide good training facilities, infrastructure and enough funds to support quality training delivery. Also, the stakeholders must help to minimize the rate of political interference during the recruits’ selection processes with the help of parliament enacting a law or devising a code of conduct. In addition, it is recommended by the researchers that the Government, in collaboration with the Ghana police administration, and the Ministry of Interior must improve upon the level of motivation and salary packages of the police service to make it more interesting and attractive to the youth which will in turn keep them in the police force to help maintain law and order in the country and to lift up the moral standards in the Ghana Police Service. The paper also recommends that more instructors should be recruited in order to balance the teacher-student ratio and improve the quality of teaching delivery in the training academies. Lastly, researchers recommend that the government in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior through the police administration should establish a progressive capacity building programmes for officers and trainees to acquire new skills and effective ways of enforcing law and order and to be abreast with changing environment in order to empower the police agencies to properly use the computer and other forms of technology in their daily operations.