CCTV cameras to be installed at all police stations: IGP

Traffic policemen will be required to wear shoulder cameras to curb public complaints

KARACHI:

The Inspector General of Sindh, Ghulam Nabi Memon has said that a decision has been taken to install CCTV cameras in all police stations across the province.

"Practical steps are being taken to improve the police station culture. Work on Safe City Project is underway in Karachi. Shoulder cameras have been procured to improve the performance of traffic police which will soon be handed over to officers." He told The Express Tribune during a discussion at his office.

He said after assuming charge of IG Sindh, his priority is to improve the police culture. In this regard, as a first step CCTV cameras will be installed in all police stations across Sindh. Work on this project has already started in Karachi with central district to be the first where the installation process has been completed in many police stations.

He informed that at least four cameras are being installed in each police station. One at the main entrance, one in the duty officer's room, one at the lock-up and one in the corridor. The IGP said that ordinary citizens usually complain that they are not treated properly at the police station. This complaint will be completely resolved after the installation of CCTV cameras. By correcting the culture of police stations, the distance between the police and the common people will be eliminated.

The IGP said that street crime is being reported from all over the city and police are trying their best to bring down the graph of such incidents. In this regard, Memon said work is underway on the Safe City Project. Meanwhile, under community policing, more than 40,000 cameras have already been installed by the citizens and especially the business community.

Regarding a question about the performance of the traffic police, he said that he also has a special focus on it. Adopting modern technology in the traffic police, shoulder cameras have been ordered which will be handed over to cops on duty. These cameras will specially record the time of challan so that the citizens' complaints against the traffic police officers can be overcome. In case the traffic police officer does not record at the time of issuing the challan, it would be considered officer's fault and departmental action would be taken.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2022.