POLICING IN THE 21ST CENTURY; LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A DIGITAL WORLD

There are three things to be looked at. Encompassing the changes that have happened in the police service. The police and ohter security agencies (Immigration, Fire Service, Customs, Prison Service, Individuals, etc) enforces law and order. Section 12 of Act 30 allows an individual to arrest (without warrant) a person who commits an offence in his presence, or on reasonable suspicion of having commited an offence. The offences are restricted to: Stealing or Fraud, Bodily Harm, Use of Force or Violence, Injury to Oublic property, Injury to property owned by or in possession of a person.

Policing is an activity that controls an industry or violent activity to make sure that those involved obey the laws or rules. From the definition, it is evident that it is not only the police service that engages in policing, but any institution or persons can form a body to engage in policing in the event of a violent activity. Police on the other house is a service , institution or officer of the police service set-up, tasked and regulated by the Police Service Act.

1821 - Colonial government felt the need to set up police training shcool in the Gold Coast

1871 - 700 men were recruited from Northern Nigeria to Gold Coast, kept at the Ussher Fort, to assist the colonial government to figh the ashantis. 400 of them were professionally trained as police officers.

The Gold Coast constanbulary moved to its present location (Tesano) in 1930 and has since had its first commander J.W Glover and first african commander J.J Hanson. The current commander is Chief Supperintendent Baah.

1918 - The Police Band was introduced by C Maxwell, which commanding officer in the year 1949 became Cpt. Sterling who took the band to the UK on invitation by the Queen Elizabeth.

1952 - Female Police (FEMPOL) was introduced with 12 female police officers.

1958 - Police Administration had a commissioner, first police commissioner being Emmanuel Tei Madjitey

1959 - Police College, no Police Academy, was established

1962 - It became a service, previously a force. Introduced licensing firearms and permits; introduced Marince police and Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) which was previously Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU).

Formed Police Unit (FPU) was introduces as an amalgamation of the Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit (protects diplomats, ministers, ambassadors, presidents, and high profile persons), and the Armourned Car Squandron. The Unit undertakes high risk operations (Galamsey, Armed Robbers, Violent demonstrations, etc). The Mobile Force is no longer in existence. They use weapons such as water canons, tear gas, quadrains, mavericks, pepper spray and bullet shield. Armoured Personnel Carreer (APC) was converted to FPU in July 2013.

Special Weapon and Attillery Tactics (SWAT). A Drum Majjor directs a regimental band or the Police Band.

Squad Notes were the guidelines of the police sector framework during the colonial era handed down to us the by colonialists.