With the widespread use of camera phones, and social media allowing for rapid distribution, police forces have felt increasing pressure as every alleged incident of malfeasance quickly finds its way online to be shared and re-shared. As such events become more frequent, it is worth considering what police forces can do using the online environment to rebuild public trust and to connect with their communities, according to an article in Police One.
To do so, police departments need to look into increasing their own digital presence, and to create their own digital narratives, through integrating such things as digital marketing and social media, to provide a unified presentation of their offerings. By incorporating data into these platforms, they can promote the positives of their actions, as well as tell the accompanying stories via video clips. These platforms also provide a forum for proactive PR, allowing the regular communication of police events and community engagement activities, and could help assuage local concerns in the event of a crisis, says Police One.
Whether via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other modes of communication, the assembly of a proper social media presence offers a distinct opportunity for police to improve their PR without straining department budgets.
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