This research explores the evolution of policing practices in the digital era, focusing on the rise of digital police patrols as a transformative aspect of contemporary law enforcement, which prompts an emerging online police métier. Mediated by digital technology, policing in online spaces creates radically new opportunities and challenges for police officers and has further led to significant changes to the traditional police métier. The study, based on qualitative research of Norwegian digital police patrols, establishes a framework to comprehend the shifts in the police métier resulting from the transition to online policing. Three identified trajectories of change include the de-monopolization of online policing, the de-acceleration of online policing emphasizing reflection over decisive action, and the emergence of the infotainment cop, transforming online police officers into semi-celebrity figures. Collectively, these changes signify a comprehensive de-territorialization of the police métier in the digital era, challenging traditional policing strategies in the online world.
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