Police: Pros and cons of Twitter

Norfolk police are using social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to engage with the public.

Earlier this month, a single tweet appealing for information on a missing Norwich teenager reached more than 13,000 people online in the space of half an hour.

And they’re using these channels to control speculation, such as during a recent firearms incident in Norwich.

But the police also warn that social media can damage investigations, when rumours are spread via social networking sites.

In the past week, the 1000^th ‘fan’ joined the Norfolk Constabulary’s Facebook page while its 2000^th follower joined them on Twitter.

The social networking sites are used daily by the force to provide the public with direct updates and to discuss local issues.

Deputy Chief Constable Simon Bailey said: “The potential of social media cannot be underestimated. We can now keep people informed and hold virtual conversations about policing issues.”

The force uses social media to issue updates, warnings and appeals, and provide up-to-the-minute bulletins during major police operations. Earlier this month, the force tweeted updates from a firearms incident in Norwich, in an effort to control speculation and reassure the local community. Appeals link followers direct to CCTV stills or images on the Norfolk police website.

But speaking on BBC Radio Norfolk this morning, Detective Chief Inspector Jez Fry, who investigated the recent murder of a pub landlady, said social media sites can be a doubl- edged sword. In major investigations they can find they have to deal with a large amount of unreliable information, posted online. Social media sites increase the volume of information police have to sift through, sometimes making it harder to identify what really happened.