Policing and Social Media: Exploring Police Digital Visibility

Matthew Jones*, Liam Ralph, Andrew Millie, Michael Rowe

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

This article explores the perspectives of police officers and police civilian staff in England who engage with social media as part of their professional practice. It uniquely focuses on how these police professionals use visual tools, namely photographs, videos, emojis, infographics, memes and visual GIFs as part of their communicative police practices. The research is informed by qualitative interviews with police participants. Drawing on perspectives related to police visibility and semiotics, we explore ways in which the police attempt to extend traditional manifestations of visibility and to develop a ‘digital visibility’ through the purposeful and strategic use of visual tools. Four themes are identified relating to the motivations and use of visual tools online - standing out and developing a symbolic police presence online; the development of digital visibility of police work; humanising police digital interactions; and the challenges of incorporating the visual.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-17
Number of pages17
JournalCriminology and Criminal Justice
Early online date11 May 2025
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 11 May 2025

Keywords

  • Social media
  • Police visibility
  • public engagement
  • Semiotics

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