Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 17: Policing in Jammu and Kashmir is set for a major overhaul, with police stations to rely more on technology and beat-level personnel to be held directly accountable for their work.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, Sujit Kumar Singh has directed all station house officers to make smart policing and digital beat policing a mandatory part of their daily functioning.
The message from the top is clear: the reforms must not remain on paper. Their impact should be visible in the services people receive, in how quickly complaints are resolved, and in the dialogue between the police and the public. Chairing a conference on smart policing and digital beat policing, the IGP said making every police station modern, accountable and sensitive to citizens is a priority. The conference was attended by Range DIGs, district SSPs, Additional SSPs, Zonal SSPs, DSPs and SHOs.
Singh instructed SHOs to implement digital beat policing effectively within their jurisdictions. Beat officers will have to visit their areas regularly and stay in touch wit “Every Police Station must be equipped with technology and be accessible and citizen-friendly”
The IGP stressed that the responsibilities of beat officers must be clearly defined and their performance reviewed regularly. SHOs and senior officers will monitor implementation and ensure that the change is felt on the ground.
He also asked officers to put into practice the five core principles of smart policing: strict but sensitive, modern and proactive, alert and accountable, reliable and quick to respond, and technologically capable and well trained.
Describing the police station as the main point of contact between the public and the police, the IGP said every station must be equipped with technology and be accessible and citizen-friendly. All district police chiefs have been asked to ensure effective implementation of the directions. The goal, he said, is to use technology to strengthen police accountability and ensure that services reach every citizen with dignity and respect. | 