Development of web-based application for crime reporting and handling in Malawi police service

Paper-based systems for handling crime reporting have become one of the most challenging methods in police services globally. The Malawi Police Service (MPS) uses this system for handling crime reporting. This system presents a number of challenges, such as delay in disseminating crime reports by victims or witnesses, misplacement or loss of crime-recorded files from the police shelves, and inconsistency of suspect documentation due to wrong manipulation or alteration by some individuals in the police offices. This paper focuses on the development of a web-based application for enhancing crime reporting and investigation in the police service. The police service needs to emphasize effective utilization of crime reporting factors to mitigate and reduce the risk of losing evidence. An assigned officer will be needed to supervise the use of the application to be implemented in the police service to make sure it is used for the right purpose. The application will be implemented using PHP, HTML, and Javascript programming languages and a database system using the MYSQL programming language.