21st century policing

The Sindh Police have formally launched their ‘Talash’ app, which will provide a centralised space for law enforcers to do background checks on suspects and other people in an effort to fight crime. The app is being piloted in Karachi before spreading province-wide. Although the initial statements from police officials suggest the focus will be on street crimes, the app’s capabilities suggest that it could also be an important tool in investigating major crimes. This is because the app allows quick access to Nadra database — which can be used to verify people’s identities — and criminal records of “1.5 million criminals across Sindh”. Licence plate checks on automobiles, cell phone registration, hotel bookings, and employment details will also become easier because these records are also easily accessible via the app. The app will also be useful in violent crime cases because of its capability to check fingerprints against Nadra’s records.

The police argue that the app would also ensure that innocent people never end up being hauled into police stations since their details could be checked on the spot. However, given the sterling “reputation for professionalism and honesty” that Pakistani police have earned over the decades, such a tool could easily be used to harass and intimidate if proper safeguards are not in place. This includes harassment of people with criminal records who have paid their penalties and completed their jail terms, or — depending on the app’s security and query logging abilities — collecting bribes from people on the basis of minor infractions, such as overdue taxes. However, the proposed introduction of police body cameras would go miles in addressing these and several other concerns, especially if strong rules are set on when and why the cameras can be turned off, lest they become showpieces. Several US jurisdictions have had to heavily reform body camera rules as criminal cops would just turn them off before committing their crimes.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2022.

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