The Usefulness of Digital Tools in improving the Effectiveness of Crime investigation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to e assess the usefulness of digital tools in improving the effectiveness of crime investigation in Tanzania Police Force. The study has three objectives namely; to examine the current digital tools used by Tanzania Police Force in crime investigation, to determine the effectiveness of digital tools in improving crime investigation, to find out the extent to which technical, legal and human factor hinder the effectiveness of crime investigation. The study was conducted at the PHQ- which is located in Dodoma. The study was guided by the Integrated Digital Investigation Model (IDIP) and employed the descriptive survey research design and the mixed research approach. In this study, data were collected using questionnaires, interviews and observation. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis. Findings indicated that there are different digital tools used by Tanzania police in crime investigation which are hardware and software, these digital tools are Magnifying glasses-Finger print, CCTV Camera, Video Spectral Comparator, Computer Machine, Spy camera: Voice recorder: Criminals Database, Deoxyribonucleic acid and Call Detail Record. The findings further indicated that through the use of digital tools, there is no more case delays, evidences are provided on time, has reduced biasness, improved information sharing, allows in-depth analysis of the digital evidence, requires few investigators, improves transparency in crime investigation, improved trust to the public, makes crime evidence precise and that crime investigation can be done from far. Finally, it was finding out the extent to which technical, legal and human factor hinder the effectiveness of crime investigation. It was recommended that the government should purchase more digital tools since they were essential in crime investigation. Digital tools should be available in all the police stations to simplify the process of crime investigation. Police officers should be sensitized on the use of available digital tools in crime investigation. It was concluded that more training should be done to the police officers on how best they can use the digital tools in crime investigation. The recommendation was made that the government through the Ministry of Internal Affairs should enact policies and laws that allow the police officers to conduct the crime investigation procedures through any digital tool. It was recommended that the Tanzania police force should have more digital tools expert so that they are used to recommend for the purchase of quality and useful tools as well as maintenance of the tools