Page 2 - THENIGERIAPOLICEFORCE AND CYBERPOLICINGASYNOPSIS

cyber-related security threats have been widely acknowledged by cyber criminologists and

law enforcement agencies, especially in the developed societies. What is the situation like in
Nigeria? Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, who are ought to be at the forefront of

policing, are said to be technologically illiterates. However, this study seeks to examine the

Nigeria Police Force and its place in cyber policing.

Conceptual Explanation

Policing

The term “policing” describes a wide range of efforts made by governmental agency to
ensure order maintenance and safety of lives and property. Yusuf (2014) opined that policing

means any organized activity that seeks to ensure maintenance of order, peace and security,

through elements of prevention, deterrence, investigation of breaches and punishment.
According to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE] (2008), policing,

in democratic dispensation, should fundamentally focus towards well-being of individuals
and their communities. This is implies that policing is not only the activities of police

organizations (Kelling & Moore, 1988), it equally incorporates efforts from different
stakeholders, including non-uniformed and non-governmental organizations aimed at

addressing community challenges related to crime and security. In twenty-first century,

policing should evolve from physical space (which allows for physical contact with crime-
subjects) to cyberspace (that allows perfect anonymity), in order to curtail dubious activities

committed therein.

Cyberspace

Cyberspace is synonymous to virtual environment. As a result of the ever-increasing

popularity of the internet various activities are carried out on cyberspace. Cyberspace is

defined as a scene where internet activities take place (Back, 2016). Cyberspace is considered
“virtual” because it is no longer associated to any geographical location. Redfern and

Naughton (2002) explained virtual environment or cyberspace as a computer-enabled space
or place, in which people can meet and interact with one another. Cyberspace has the

capacity to accommodate people from diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds
because the space (virtual) is free from constraints and can be tailored, allowing participation

of all (Loureiro & BettenCourt, 2014). Again, the cyberspace makes it possible for

individuals that are spatially distant to engage in instant interaction. Internet-sites, chat-
rooms, business environments can be considered as cyberspace or virtual environment.

2