An application framework for mobile phones in crime control in Uganda.

Abstract

Uganda Police Force has annually reported increased Crime rates in the country. Many crimes are committed with/or through mobile phones. This has rendered mobile phones a potential source of incriminating evidence for digital investigations and a tool in crime reporting. The purpose of this study is to formulate an application framework for mobile phones in crime reporting and collaborating evidence there by controlling crime in Uganda. This study was non-experimental and cross-sectional survey biased on the quantitative approach. The researcher used Expert purposive sampling to determine the research sample from the study population. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Whereas the investigators believed in the application of mobile phones in crime reporting and collaborating evidence, it was found out that they didn’t often use them as a potential source of incriminating evidence while making criminal case decisions. Of the 10 files of criminal cases, only 1 to 3 of them were considered during prosecution. This was found to be largely dependent on criminal investigators below average training level in mobile phones forensics and their average mobile Applications competence. Policy makers, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and other criminal investigations organs; should consider training of criminal investigators and the rest of the community on how to apply mobile phones in crime control. Understanding of mobile phone applications assist the country in crime control efforts. This study definitely provides an application framework relevant in crime reporting and collaborating evidence which in turn controls crime. Further studies relating crime control with other variables like Facial recognition software, biometric devices and Automatic License Plate Recognition be undertaken.