THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

ABSTRACT
Although technology holds great promise for improving law enforcement , research on police technology is not well developed and raises questions about technology‘s impacts on law enforcement . The purpose of this study was to assess the implications of technological advancements on performance of NDLEA officers and suggest the best ways to enhance technology use in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Objectives of the study were to establish the prevalence and use of new technology in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, to examine the types of technology used in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, to identify challenges that Nigeria NDLEA officers face in the use of new technologies, to examine effects of technology on the performance of Nigeria NDLEA officers and to find out the best strategies to help NDLEA officers adopt new technologies to enhance their performance. The study adopted the postmodern theory of technology by John Watkins Chapman. The study adopted a descriptive research design survey where it targeted 1700 NDLEA officers, who formed the target population of this study. A total of 170 NDLEA officers formed the sample size. The sampling techniques used were simple random sampling for junior NDLEA officers followed by purposive sampling technique for senior NDLEA officers. Raw data from respondents was obtained using questionnaires, interviews and focused group discussions. The qualitative data was analyzed thematically and by looking for patterns. They were presented in the form of narrative and verbatim quotations. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics includes percentages and means. They were presented in tables, graphs and pie charts. The findings will help enhance the usage of new technological advancements in improvement of the performance of our officers. The study discovered the performance of NDLEA officers has greatly improved due to advancement of technology. The study established that there was use of technology in National Drug Law Enforcement Agency though not very much advanced. It also established that Globalization and new technologies have facilitated certain cyber-criminal operations, thereby placing an additional burden on law enforcement agencies. Fifty two percent of the respondents noted that lack of funds to acquire updated equipment was a major challenge facing NDLEA officers in their effort to adopt new technology. The study found out that, due to fast technological advancements, the digital forensic tools become obsolete too often. Forty percent of the respondents had the view that this has become a major challenge because they are expensive and the budget allocation to acquire them is limited. Unemployment of techno-savvy personnel was seen as a major challenge in adopting technology in National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Fifty four percent of the respondents cited that in the recruitment of NDLEA officers not much consideration is given to the courses one undertook in the case of graduates. The study recommends that the government of Nigeria should increase the allocation of funds to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for the acquisition of updated equipment, to provide training at appropriate levels in forensic techniques and in technological skills for policy makers and law enforcement and investigative personnel, introduce appropriate procedural and substantive laws to deal with crimes committed in an electronic environment and raise public awareness, on the appropriate use of the internet.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Over the past several decades, there have been dazzling technological innovations that seem to occur with ever-increasing speed all over the world (NIJ 1998). According National Institute of Justice, Systematic photography for criminal identification was first used in San Francisco in the late 1850‘s. Police use of telegraph began in Albany, New York, in 1877, one year later; in 1878 the telephone was used in police private grounds in Washington, DC. In 1901, Scotland Yard adopted a fingerprint identification system. This facilitated identification of criminals. In 1923, the first police crime laboratory in the United States was established by the Los Angeles Police Department and the teletype machine was inaugurated by the Pennsylvania state police and this helped in investigating crimes. Detroit police began using the one way radio in 1928, Boston police began using the two-way radio in 1934, in 1930, the prototype of the present day polygraph was developed, and radar was introduced to traffic law enforcement in 1948. In 1955, the New Orleans police department was one of the first departments in the country to install an electronic data processing machine and this had a great impact on communication (National Institute Of Justice, 1994).

Use of computers, finger print reader, internet, wireless computers cell phones and global positioning systems are other advancements that have been discovered. The introduction of the telegraph in the late nineteenth century and the utilization of two-way radios, engine vehicles and officers supported dispatching amid the twentieth century have achieved sensational changes in the association of police work and, with them, new public desires for police administrations. This is the reason behind why individuals expect that the most recent round of technological change will have a similarly significant effect on law enforcement (National Institute Of Justice, 1994).

Advances in innovation have been a blended gift for contemporary law implementation organizations. Take the dangerous spread of Internet access over the last several decades, for instance. Regular advances like online networking and different applications have made it possible for groups and even terrorist based gangs associations to organize, making a completely new, computerized space that requires law enforcement (National Institute Of Justice, 1994).

Social media is not the main innovation that has drawn concern from police. Numerous in the law enforcement network have especially referred to Waze, a movement following application that shows the present area of cops, as conceivably permitting those with criminal plan to maintain a strategic distance from (or search out and hurt) law requirement officers. While this unquestionably confuses crafted by keeping the general population safe, criminals utilizing the Internet, whatever they utilize it for, regularly abandons a trail. With the best possible learning and instruments on their side, law requirement officers can utilize this extensive channel of correspondence against potential or suspected criminal guilty parties. The Internet has turned into an expansive trap of shared individual data that remaining parts allowable as proof when accomplished legitimately; making a natural database of recorded practices that can give one of a kind knowledge into each case. Whenever dissected, this information can even be valuable in distinguishing criminal patterns and foreseeing dangers (Koper, 2009).

Police are being entrusted with an undeniably muddled test as the state of innovation advances, however the present best officers aren't precisely lacking in technical muscle. A similar fast development of innovation driving brisk adjustment with respect to police has set the phase for energizing, imaginative tech that enables officers to serve their networks. Law implementation officers around the nation have perceived the estimation of these apparatuses, utilizing them to meet the moving requests of police work. Some are still generally untested, others are dubious, yet each new deadly implement in the battle against wrong doing can possibly profoundly modify the manner in which law requirement works (Koper, 2009).

As per the 2013/2014 crime statistics reports, South Africa has a high crime rate recorded at 47 kills daily. Greater Mayfair Safety and Security (GMMS) that watches the Mayfair rural areas in Johannesburg has detailed wrong doing decay and capture of numerous crooks since the presentation of Whatsapp and BBM Messages as a method for revealing violations and suspicious episodes. Inhabitants have communicated a great deal of thankfulness for the presentation of these applications as a way to guarantee security on the zone as the reaction to wrong doing exercises by the police and security organizations has expanded and occupants are more vigilante (Crime statistics report, 2013/2014).

South Africa's City Center has additionally encountered the equivalent extraordinary fall in crime rate since the presentation of CCTV cameras in the city. The CCTVs have reduced violent muggings, cash-in-transit heists, bank burglaries and other violent crimes in what used to be the most risky city in South Africa. Organizations have since turned out to be protected attributable to the more than 240 cameras covering all boulevards, 'Wrongdoing Line'; a mysterious wrong doing tip-off administration and in addition SMS informing wrongdoing revealing. The utilization of long range informal communication applications and being the main nation to present SMS messages wrong doing revealing has helped South Africa significantly diminish the wrong doing rate, capture offenders and recoup millions worth of stolen products. The activity being unique enhances the network law enforcement and carefulness in battling and diminishing wrong doing and in addition collaboration in securing offenders (Crime statistics report 2013/2014).

1.2 Statement of the Problem
Technological advancements have molded law enforcement in numerous essential ways throughout the years. One needs just to consider that the essential police technique for a significant part of the twentieth century, mechanized preventive watch and fast reaction to calls for administration was created because of the development of the vehicle, twoway radio communications, and Personal computers supported dispatch frameworks. In recent decades, there have been numerous essential advancements regarding data advances (IT), scientific frameworks, video surveillance frameworks, tag pursuers, deoxyribonucleic corrosive testing innovations that have had broad impacts on police offices. (DNA), and different (Mullen 1996).

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has attempted to ensure that NDLEA officers are prepared on new technologies. For example, recruits at Nigeria Police College have access to computer where they are instructed on the essentials of personal computer technology. Nigeria police benefit has likewise purchased Personal Computers for a few stations, new vehicles, and present day weapons to distinguish and deflect crime, yet notwithstanding these endeavors, they have not possessed the capacity to control all the innovation related crimes. Nigeria NDLEA officers are constantly being confronted by the ever advancing and increasingly sophisticated nature of new technology. Simple things like occurrence books are still kept in hard copies instead of being soft copies which can be retrieved anywhere and easily. It is against this background that this study wanted to find out the implications of technological advancements on the performance of NDLEA officers.

1.3. Purpose of the study
To evaluate the implications of technological advancement on performance of NDLEA officers and recommend the most ideal approaches to upgrade technological use in the police benefit.

1.4 Objectives
a) To establish the preference and use of new technology in the Nigeria Police Service

b) To examine the types of technology used in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

c) To identify challenges that NDLEA officers face in the use of new technologies

d) To examine effects of technology on performance of NDLEA officers

e) To identify the best strategies of helping NDLEA officers adapt new technologies to improve their performance

1.5. Research questions/hypotheses
a) To what extent is the prevalence and use of new technologies in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency?

b) What are the types of technology used in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency?

c) What are the challenges faced by NDLE officers in the use of new technology?

d) What is the effect of technology use on performance of NDLEA officers?

e) What are the best strategies to help NDLEA officers adapt new technology to improve their performance?

1.6 Assumptions
The researcher assumes that; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency is using new technology to some extent, there are different types of technology used in National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, there are challenges that Nigeria NDLEA officers face in the use of new technology, there are effects of technology use in National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and there exist strategies that can help Nigeria NDLEA officers adapt new technology to improve performance.

1.7 Justification and Significance of the study
Crime is no longer as effectively traceable and solidly characterized as it once seemed to be. With advancements in technology over the recent years, many developing countries, including Nigeria have seen the development of technological crime. Nigeria is encountering a developing number of digital crimes that jeopardize national security, Information, communications and technological frameworks and residents' protection (Nigeria cyber security report 2014).

The nation is losing an expected 2 billion shillings every year through cyber-crime as indicated by Nigeria digital security report 2014. Today, cyber criminals that indulge digital in violations are not driven by ego or aptitude. Rather, they need to utilize their knowledge to gain benefits fast. They are utilizing their mastery to take away, beguile and misuse individuals as they think that it‘s simple to acquire cash without doing a decent living. These revelations created a compelling reason for a study to be carried out. The study found out how officers are faring on with new technological innovations to curb crime (Nigeria cyber security report 2014).

The law enforcers and the general citizenry are likely to benefit from the study if the Government of Nigeria increases the allocation of funds to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for the acquisition of updated equipment, provides training at appropriate levels in forensic techniques and in technological skills for policy makers and law enforcement and investigative personnel, appropriate procedural and substantive laws are introduced to deal with crimes committed in an electronic environment and public awareness on the appropriate use of the internet is done. The crime will greatly reduce and the work of law enforcers would be easier as they will be at par with the changing technology.

1.8 Scope and Limitations of the study
The study was carried out at National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. NDLEA police unit is a unit within the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. It is divided into six divisions namely Nairobi division, Nakuru division, Nairobi terminus division, Mtito andei division, Mombasa terminus division and Kilindini port police division. The researcher confronted impediments regarding defensive societies of police functions where data is deemed as delicate and dreaded that it might be abused. However the analyst guaranteed the authorities that the study was for academic purposes only and it would likewise aid the improvement of knowledge around there. It would likewise help with getting the best techniques around there. The researcher also faced resources constraints as collection of data needed a lot of money for travelling, printing questionnaires as well as internet access. The researcher had also time constraints but through support given by the employer it was possible (Nigeria NDLEA Annual Report, 2017).

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Item Type: Project Material  |  Size: 88 pages  |  Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word  |  Delivery: Within 30Mins.
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