Pugh, Daniel James William (2024) Detectives’ use of Digital Mobile Technology: A Study of a Northern English Police Force. PhD thesis, University of Leeds.
Abstract
Recent years have seen the proliferation of mobile technologies in policing with increasing interest on the use, adoption, and implementation of mobile technologies from police researchers. Despite this interest, very little attention has been paid to the use of mobile technologies by detectives. As a result, there is only a vague understanding of how mobile technology influences the work of detectives, drawn largely from the application of the broader technology and mobile technology in policing literature, to the context of criminal investigation. Using activity theory as an analytic framework, this thesis addresses the deficit in the literature on detective work and mobile technology by investigating the use of mobile technology by detectives in a Northern English police force. Qualitative data from interviews and observations of detectives and mobile technology program delivery staff are drawn on to understand the influence of technology on detectives’ information practice, the factors that affect the adoption of mobile technology in criminal investigation and the use of unauthorised personal devices.
The findings indicate that despite the introduction of mobile technology, detectives failed to adopt the mobile device. The adoption of mobile technology was constrained by the existing structures, culture, and practices of criminal investigation. Efficiency, autonomy, and safety are the lenses through which detectives view mobile technology. Against a background of little perceived benefit to detective’s practices, mobile technology was seen as a tool for surveillance and performance management. Rather than use mobile technology, detectives revert to incumbent practices to achieve work goals. In place of officially sanctioned mobile technology, detectives use unauthorised personal mobile devices (shadow systems). Shadow systems were seen to be congruent with the work practice of detectives extending capabilities in line with detectives professional and cultural values. The findings shed new light on the use of mobile technology by detectives and is the first study to examine the use of shadow systems by the police and detectives specifically.
Metadata
Supervisors: | David, Allen and Stuart, Lister |
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Awarding institution: | University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Leeds University Business School The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Law (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Dr Daniel Pugh |
Date Deposited: | 29 Jan 2025 10:29 |
Last Modified: | 29 Jan 2025 10:29 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:etheses.whiterose.ac.uk:36034 |
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