Information Needs and Information Seeking Behaviour of Police Prosecutors at the Criminal Investigation Department, Headquarters, Accra.

Abstract

This study investigated the information needs and information seeking behaviour of Police Prosecutors at The Greater Accra Region. This study sought to identify the sources of information for Police Prosecutors, the effect of age, education and experience on information seeking behaviour and perception, police prosecutors hold about the Library. The study also investigated the barriers to information seeking by Police Prosecutors and the extent to which Police Prosecutors rely on the Library for their information needs as well as the limitation of the Library in providing adequate information to Police Prosecutors. Questionnaires were distributed to 50 Prosecutors. Thirty-five (35) usable responses received. The responses have been presented and analyzed. Results gathered from the analyses indicate that a great number of Prosecutors are much aware of the pivotal role of the library. They are of the view that the Library should be expended, resourced with the current books and staff of Police Service be trained in Library skills to enhance effective information provision. The Police Service in general is bedeviled with many constraints to information. Among them are suspects of crime unwillingness to share information, lack of funding for the library, and the changing nature of the law relating to crime. Among the recommendation made to enhance the Prosecutor's ability to combat crime and to keep abreast of the law are the holding of regular Meeting and Seminars and Six months' training on Criminal Code