Basis of confidentiality: Police network set up to enable citizens to share information

Informants to receive rewards of up to Rs100,000 for details on militants, facilitators

PESHAWAR: An incentive-based network has been established by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police to provide cash awards of up to Rs100,000 to citizens who share credible information about militants, extortionists, target killers and their facilitators.

Officials privy to the development told The Express Tribune the initiative – titled Police Information Network (PIN) – has been initially launched in the city and will be extended to other parts of the province soon. Confidentiality will be guaranteed to informants so they are comfortable sharing information with the police.

The decision to launch the network was taken during a high-level security meeting held at the IGP’s office last week. The moot was attended by the heads of the special branch, counter-terrorism department (CTD) and Peshawar police.

Participants at the meeting said valuable information can be obtained from citizens provided they are assured that their identities will be kept confidential. The standard operating procedures (SOP) for the network were also chalked out without delay.

Modus operandi

As per the SOPs, the initiative will be personally handled by senior officials, including CTD DIG, CCPO and SSP. The involvement of these officials is unprecedented and will help strengthen public trust in the network.

Any citizen who has credible information about militants, extortionists, target killers or their facilitators will be expected to send an SMS to these officials. The text message will contain the term  ‘PIN’. Once the message is received, senior officials will contact the sender to obtain more details.

The sender’s identity will not be disclosed to anyone. The informants are likely to receive between Rs10,000 and Rs100,000 if the information they have provided results in a successful arrest or helps the police foil an attack.

Such platforms have been used by law-enforcement agencies across the globe to combat militancy and ensure crime control.

Aggressive campaign

An insider at Central Police Office told The Express Tribune an aggressive publicity campaign will be launched during the next week to inform the public about the network. Contact details of the relevant officials who will be running the initiative will also be provided to them.

He said banners and pamphlets will be used to heighten awareness about PIN and campaigns will also be launched through print and electronic media.

If the initiative is successful, it will help law-enforcement agencies identify criminals and also act as a deterrent for sleeper cells of various militant groups within settled areas of the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2016.