The impact of the digital society on police recruit training in Canada

Abstract

This research study examines the recruit training of police officers in Canada in light of society’s increasing dependence on digital technologies, systems, and devices. The study employed qualitative interviews with eight participants from recognized police recruit training academies in Canada. An extensive review of the literature indicates that societies face increasing cyber-crimes and crimes involving digital evidence. This, along with police agencies’ adoption of digital tools, software, systems, and devices, have created policing environments where officers need proficiency to understand and use digital technologies. This study uses a theoretical framework of technology adoption, called UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) alongside a grounded theory approach to understand the impact, challenges, and opportunities for digital literacy skills development at the basic recruit training academies. Findings from the interviews reveal that there is a need for Canadian police officers to be digitally literate in order to provide policing services to an increasingly digital crime landscape.