Field cops to wear body cameras: IG Memon

Police IT dept unveils app to help officials identify suspects

KARACHI:

Sindh police have developed a web-based application to keep track of arrested suspects and repeat offenders.

A device installed with the app will have criminal record of at least 150,000 offenders and will be able to access NADRA database too, top official of the IT department of the police said.

IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon on Monday inaugurated the Talash app during a ceremony at the Central Police Office in Karachi.

Sindh police chief said that app is expected to serve the police as an effective weapon against crime and criminals. He said that crime and terrorism can be eradicated only with the use of technology and the cooperation of the people.

Memon congratulated the entire team of Sindh Police Information Technology Department for creating and introducing the Talash app, maintaining that all efforts towards the development of the app deserve praise. He said that in the first phase the app is being introduced in Karachi and soon its scope will be extended to other districts of Sindh.

He said that with the help of technology and use of modern techniques, the police is trying to improve all operational and investigation measures. The purpose of creating this software is to facilitate the investigation aspects of the police force. The app will also serve as stumbling block for the criminal elements and lower their morale. Sindh is working to separate investigation system of the police from the security wing.

The training, equipment and weapons of investigation and security wings will be commensurate with the requirements of the relevant fields, he explained.

A committee has also been formed to make formal recommendations in this regard, he said. Urging on the need to promote a better image of the police, IG Sindh said that people should fear punishment, not police. "We are also bringing a body camera which we want to see on our on-field police officials," he said, adding that efforts are also underway to improve the counter-terrorism department of the police force in Sindh.

Terrorism has become a nightmare for the world, he said and added, "we have to sincerely ensure all individual and collective efforts to uproot this evil for the sake of protecting the lives and property of our people so that we can get better results."

The top cop of the province said that Sindh CM has released funds for the acquisition of world-class technology, the aim of which is to make all police aspects more efficient and effective.

Criminal record a click away

Speaking on the occasion, Police IT Department DIG Pervaiz Chandio said that Talash app purpose is to combat street crime using the modern technology.

"On-field police personnel can easily check criminal record of any person by just a click," he said explaining if any person is stopped at a checkpoint and police want to check his criminal record they can easily do it by a mobile device fitted with Talash app. Authorised police personnel can use it through biometric verification, he said.

Chandio further said that the app will be able to access other data including NADRA records from this device. A device with the app can be tracked by GPS. The app will contain the data of 150000 criminal records in Sindh including Karachi.

The verification of the wanted accused can also be done with the help of the app. Along with this, fake number plates and fake driving licenses can also be checked, while an accused who is on bail can also be traced.

He said that the district officer will know the district in which the Talash app is used by the police.

The app will also have digital copies FIRs while the identity of the suspected and wanted persons will also be available. This app also has police employment records with the help of which even fake policemen may be apprehended. Furthermore, unknown body found at a location can also be identified with the help of fingerprints.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2022.