IGP annoyed with ‘sluggish attitude’

Orders inquiry into inefficiency of 8787 complaint centre staff

LAHORE: The Punjab Inspector General of Police has censured Lahore Police for not addressing the grievances of citizens filing their complaints at 8787.

He wrote a letter to the CCPO (Capital City Police Officer) Lahore, saying DSPs did not take matters seriously or listen to the victims.



He ordered an inquiry into the matter and demanded a report before at his office at the earliest.

A computerised centralised complaint centre 8787 was established at the Central Police Office Lahore. The centre would receive complaints through SMS and voice calls on a short code (8787). Moreover, complaints were also received online and through emails. A dedicated team of young IT professionals was deputed to handle these complaints in an expeditious manner, as claimed by the Punjab police.

The system is highly interactive and the complainant is kept in the loop until its disposal. He or she can view the progress of their complaint online and send feedback at any moment; online or through SMS.

The IGP Complaints Centre received complaints regarding the non-registration of FIRs, faulty investigations, illegal detentions and arrests of innocent persons, registration of false FIRs, slackness in duty and the demand of illegal gratification.



All complaints are sent to senior ranking officers for due action. A sub-divisional police officer is bound to call the complainant himself within eight hours and report to the IGP Complaints centre. Moreover, these officers have to send their final reports within the stipulated timelines. For complaints of illegal detentions and demand of illegal gratification, the replies have to be submitted within 24 hours. Similarly, for complaints of non-registration of FIRs and arrests of innocent persons, the replies have to be submitted within 72 hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2018.