The use of force by law enforcement officers is sometimes required when dealing with suspects resisting arrest and/or individuals disobeying direct orders. However, when the use of force becomes excessive or is used unnecessarily, law enforcement officers are arguably committing ethical, and in some cases, criminal violations (Gould et al., 2020). The use of excessive force can be harmful to the community at large due to the possible physical injuries that come from it as well as its potential for creating a hostile environment between police and citizens. Moreover, it undermines public trust in law enforcement agencies leading to further tension between authority figures and citizens (Reisig & Parks-Miller 2018).
Thus, proper training on appropriate usage of force should be provided to all law enforcement personnel as part of their initial training program. Additionally, policies should emphasize de-escalation techniques that enable personnel to employ less aggressive methods before resorting to using physical force (Carrabine et al., 2016). It is also important that there be procedures in place where allegations regarding inappropriate use are swiftly addressed and reported on fairly so as not only ensure justice but also so that any perpetrators can face disciplinary action if found guilty. Lastly, an external body such as a civilian review board should also exist independent of any internal oversight system in order to provide impartial feedback regarding complaints against law enforcement (Balkin & Hay 2019).
Cyberstalking comes under the typology of cyber-violence, which is an online behaviour that leads or constitutes to assault against the well-being of an individual, or a group (Herring, 2002). As, cyberstalking is involved using the internet to gather personal information about the victim, this is a violation of privacy creating a form of intimidation leading to in some cases explicit threats. This can affect the victims’ emotion, psychological and physical well-being. Ellison and Akdeniz (1998) had constructed the term cyberstalking as an online harassment, due to the crucial component of harassment being a repetitive behaviour. The main element of this case is ‘cyberstalking’ with the involvement of ‘harassment’. This brings in theory by Ellison & Akdeniz (1998), as the harassment of Rosica was repetitive until reported. In addition, other claims stated, “seven other women have told authorities that he also harassed them in a similar fashion to the victim in the criminal case”.
The first theory that is going to be discussed is, ‘Space Transition Theory (STT)’ (Jaishankar, 2008) which was created to demonstrate the causation of crimes in cyberspace. STT is an explanation about the nature of the behaviour of the individual who brings out their non-conforming and conforming behaviour in the physical and cyberspace. This theory argues that people tend to behave differently when moving from one space to another.
The second theory is ‘Liquid Modernity’ developed by Bauman. In liquid modernity, the web has a momentary value, the past and future become meaningless as coordinates of the psychological life of the individuals’ present (Bauman, 2009). The reason and reality tend to break down the subject having the illusion of being omnipotent, omnipresent and immortal (Carabellese et al., 2014). Therefore, on the web, the other cannot be met as a real person but in terms of an empty simulacrum, convenience and appearance (Baudrillard, 1981), lacking its own identity defined in its spatial and temporal coordinates (Cassinari, 2005).
Space Transition Theory concludes seven key postulates, (1) person, with repressed criminal behaviour (in the physical space) have a propensity to commit a crime in cyberspace which they would not commit in physical space, due to their status and position. Due to Rosica being an ex-cop restricted him committing a behaviour in physical space, as he had to maintain his status and position of being an ex-cop. (2) Identity flexibility, dissociative anonymity and the lack of deterrence factor in the cyberspace provides offenders with the choice to commit cybercrime. Rosica had the accessibility to create a fake online identity in which he did (Katy Jones), this was the identity flexibility factor. This meant that his real identity was hidden/
