Lahore police propose five-year plan

LAHORE:  

Lahore police have devised a five-year Strategic Development Plan to deal with prime challenges being faced by the force. The estimated cost of the project is approximately Rs41 billion and the summary of the plan has been forwarded to the Punjab chief minister for approval.

The plan, which has been developed by CCPO B A Nasir and SSP Administration Athar Waheed, states that Lahore is home to a population of 11.26 million with an average growth rate of 2.61%. Further, an additional three million people visit the city on a daily basis.

At least 96,442 cases are registered in 2018 while the city hosted 3,170 public events, 277 rallies and 1,956 public demonstrations. The plan highlighted that the ratio of police constabulary to citizens is 1:571 in Lahore. In comparison, police rules recommend a ratio of 1:450 while international standards call for a ratio of 1:300.

It also revealed that there is one traffic official for every 1,500 vehicles while the recommended ratio is one official for 500 vehicles. Moreover, 19 police stations are without proper buildings and no new vehicles have been purchased since 2008.

The plan has identified five major areas of reforms including policy and law, organisational restructuring, human resource development, infrastructure development, budget and logistic support and special strategic interventions.

The plan also emphasises on implementing the Police Order 2002 with the necessary amendments, approval of the New Police rules, proposed amendments in law, external public oversight structure and standardisation of police work and procedures.

It also raises doubts about the existing organisational structure which is lacking in addressing the needs of urban policing in megacities and proposed a centralised police headquarters for Capital City Police Lahore with 12 bureaus. It also proposed integrating the Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre with Lahore police.

The plan also outlined the need for recruiting 19,626 police officers and officials of various ranks to meet the organisational needs of the next five years while ensuring three shifts for officials.

The plan also proposes recruiting professional psychologists in order to periodically assess all serving officials as well as adopting a health insurance policy to cater for the medical needs of the employees and their families. A police housing scheme and financial incentives on the basis of performance have also been recommended.

Under infrastructure development and logistic support, the plan has recommended revamping Capital City Police Headquarters, constructing an additional three police lines, six public facilitation centres, 19 police stations, 42 traffic sector offices, a road safety centres, two day care centres and six housing units and 324 flats for officials.

The plan also suggested budgetary allocations for operational expenditures at police stations. It proposed raising the annual cost of investigations to Rs556 million, keeping in view the 137% increase in 2002. In 2018, only Rs61 million were allocated.

The plan asked for an additional 493 vehicles and 1,678 motorcycles and called for spending Rs115.75 on additional arms and ammunition.

The plan also recommended special strategic interventions such as international human rights standards for law enforcement, victim support system for victims of crime and gender responsive policing.

The plan claimed that the force will bring their policing at par with international standards. The proposed plan will not only fill the gaps in legal regimes for effective law enforcement but will also change the organisational structure, the plan added. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2019.