New investigation SOP: Top cops to handle important cases

SOP stipulates that investigation of important cases would not be handed over to those investigation officers

ISLAMABAD: In a surprising move, the Islamabad Police on Tuesday issued new standard operating procedures for transferring and assigning investigation cases to investigators.

Issued by the Islamabad’s Inspector General of Police Tariq Masood Yasin, the new SOP stipulates that investigation of complex and important cases would not be handed over to those investigation officers who in the past had failed to complete investigations of cases in time or showed incompetence or otherwise negative aspects were observed about their performance.

Moreover, the new SOP stipulated that SSP Islamabad would keep complete details of investigation staff provided by Zonal SPs.

In case an officer is relieved from the charge, they would be required to give a detailed briefing on all aspects of the cases to the new investigation officer.

According to new SOP, investigation of any case could not be changed or transferred more than three times and decision of transferring any case would be made by the board.

On the first request to transfer the case, a board headed by SSP (Operations) including Zonal SP, SDPO Circle and SHO of respective police station would decide after seeking opinion of other members whether the case should be transferred or not. The board would also review the reason behind the request to transfer the investigation.

On the second transfer request, a board headed by DIG (Operations) including SSP (Operation), SP (Investigation) and Zonal SP would decide the matter.

A board headed by IGP including DIG (Operations), SSP (Operations) and SP Investigation would decide the third request. The boards will meet weekly.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2017.