Social media, policing, and public legitimacy: Navigating between the digital space and impact on the street

8th July 2025Christine Townsend, Policing Insight

The riots that affected many English cities last summer following the Southport murders highlighted the increasing difficulty for policing globally in responding to social media disinformation; Policing Insight’s Christine Townsend, a communications specialist, looks at the challenges that have faced police in the UK, Canada, Australia and the US in the response to digital communications, as well as efforts to use online platforms to better engage communities and build trust.

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Social media, policing, and public legitimacy: Navigating between the digital space and impact on the street

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