In many countries, the face of policing and fighting insecurity has changed dramatically in the past decades as a result of advancements in technology.
Video surveillance through the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) became more common in the 1970s with the invention of video cassette recording technology and this has helped in both preventing and solving crime all over the world.
Artificial satellites are helping to map and survey vast areas of land and provide government agencies relevant data to safeguard lives. There are Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices and features that allow security officers to recover stolen items easily.
But the application of technology in combating crime is more varied. With the introduction of smartphones, various mobile apps have lately been invented to keep societies safe through the provision of crucial information, tools, and engaging the public.
As recently hinted by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Muhammadu Dingyadi, Nigeria planned to invest more in acquiring “modern-day technology and equipment that will assist us in fighting crime”.
Nigerians are, however, not simply waiting for the government to act in this direction. In August, 2019, students of the University of Lagos developed an app, Lagmobile, to improve security on campus. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, explained that the app allowed students to report cases of rape, kidnapping, cultism, and so on with the click of a button.
“Once this is done, probably accompanied by a short message, wherever such the person is, the signal will be sent to the right quarters for urgent intervention,” he said.
Here are other mobile apps that have been developed and are in use by security agencies, crime fighters, and citizens in various parts of the world.
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