Beats system: Some police officials want to stay ‘indoors’

ISLAMABAD:

Police officials seem to be having troubles with the recently introduced beats system in the capital. Inside sources said at least two police officers have called their superiors, expressing their desire to stay indoors instead of patrolling the streets.

Meanwhile beat in-charges appear to have gone on a binge of renting buildings or purchasing containers within which to set up their offices, even if it means increasing the financial burden on Islamabad Police.

Hiring of such offices and containers have been seen in the jurisdictions of all police stations especially in Koral, Sabzi Mandi, Aabpara and Margalla.

This extra expense could go to waste if the beats system fails to take off.

The beats system was introduced in an attempt to improve the effectiveness of policing in the city.

Inspector General of police (IGP) Islamabad, Wajid Ali Khan Durrani, directed that the existing areas falling under each police station be divided into small manageable chunks. Each chunk would then be handed over to an inspector or a sub-inspector.

However there already have been complaints against the subordinates’ behaviour.

DIG (Operations) Bani Amin Khan and SSP Islamabad Tahir Alam Khan, responsible for Islamabad police’s operational matters, said that there is dire need for reviewing this matter as it would not only raise expenses but also undermine the SHOs’ authority. Although the beat in-charges are suggested by the SHOs on orders issued by the IGP and SSP, they would be reluctant to allow interference in matters of authority. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2011.