Police in Regina say social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, can be great tools for solving crimes but at times the new media may also hinder or even frustrate an investigation.
One area that is particularly important for officers is finding people who prey on children, and the internet is a logical place to look.
Regina Cpl. Candace Benko is on a special Internet Child Exploitation Unit which often has investigators going online.
Benko says one technique is to have officers assume a false identity.
"We also use it as a tool for us to be online and insert ourselves as children or other like minded individuals," Benko explained.
Officers may even check out Facebook profiles or examine Twitter postings, to advance an investigation.
Experience has taught police that sexual predators often share photos, and the images can yield valuable clues.
"It may be something as simple as an item in the background that gives us enough evidence to corroborate the address and the location that they do live at," Benko said. "Might be one little detail that we've required to assist us in getting a warrant."
Facebook profiles can also yield useful information, even indirectly, about -- for example -- the whereabouts of a suspect.
Sometimes people online share more information than might be wise, if they are trying to elude authorities.
"It's not too far to state that most types of crime that do happen, somebody is either going to post about it, ... [or] they're recording it and putting it on YouTube or Twittering about it," Benko said.
However, just as social media can be useful new tools for police, the nature of the internet — instantaneous and far-reaching — can also thwart their efforts.
In some cases, family or friends of suspects are sharing information against the wishes of police.
Benko said they have encountered cases where family and friends have blabbed about potential suspects.
"When people are going and posting such things, they're letting out information that may be key for us," Benko said, adding that can significantly hinder investigations.
In addition to using social media for detective work, police are using the new tools to connect with citizens.
Regina has a full-time officer dedicated to social media, using the internet to answer complaints, share police alerts, and giving police a positive presence online.
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