Using technology for busting crime: Social media desks to be set up

RAWALPINDI: In a bid to combat crime more effectively, the Punjab police have finalised plans to set up social media desks in each district of the province.

According to sources in the police department, senior officers have felt the need to set up social media desks last year after the police force found itself stuck in a number of cases while using traditional investigation techniques.

Eventually, investigators had to turn to social media to crack some of these cases. This convinced them of the role that social media can play in busting crime.

Even though the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime and other related criminal activities, especially those which are covered under the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, fall under the domain of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) — the executing authority under the bill, and some other law enforcing institutions, the Punjab police felt that it needed its own set of skilled people who can aid investigations.

Hence, the Punjab police have decided to set up social media desks in each district which will include social media experts who will help police investigators trace suspects.

For this purpose, the police department dedicated substantial resources last year to finalise the plan to set up the desks.

The desks will initially help investigation officers solve murder, robbery and kidnapping cases. Later, it is expected that the scope of the desks will be increased to include cases of drug peddling, vehicle theft, possessing and using illegal weapons and other crimes.

Moreover, the desk will also help law enforcing agencies in tackling cases of propaganda spread against the police through social media.

Police officers will also be given training through short courses on the use of social media to aid in investigations.

It is pertinent to mention here that the police department already uses social media but more as a tool to connect with people by maintaining social media accounts of the relevant precincts and officers.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2019.