Punjab Police has decided to abolish illegal police posts, allegedly being used for illegal detention and torture centres, other human rights abuses, throughout the province.
Like police stations, new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for police posts ask for the installation of CCTV cameras linked to the IG's office in lockups and the setting up of front desks.
In this regard, the Inspector General of Police Punjab (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar issued orders directing to dismantle all the unapproved police posts in Punjab and submit a compliance report to the central police office within two days.
He also asked the DIG Operations Lahore, all CPOs and DPOs not to establish any police post without obtaining the prior formal approval of the IG Punjab and the respective RPOs of their district.
Furthermore, he said that, for setting up checkpoints in all districts, the concerned RPOs will have to take permission from the IG Punjab by May 9.
The IG Punjab said that the establishment of a front desk and the installation of CCTV cameras would be ensured at all police check posts established after the approval.
He said there shall be no lockups in the police check posts, but if the police station concerned is 50 kilometres away, then the RPOs concerned may establish lockups with the installation of CCTV cameras after approval of the IG Punjab.
He said that CCTV cameras installed in lockups should be fully functional for effective monitoring.
He also directed that all arrests and investigations would be undertaken in the respective police stations.
He further added that the establishment of a front desk and the installation of CCTV cameras at the approved police posts should be completed by May 10.
Commenting on the issue, Dr Anwar said the purpose of police checkpoints is to ensure a quick response against criminal activities.
However, despite being aware of their duty, police should not be involved in any sort of human rights violations.
He added that he had received a few complaints that since the CCTV cameras were installed in lockups and police stations, such illegal police posts were being used for illegal detentions and as torture centers. He said that the police top brass did not approve of any such measure.
AIG Operations on behalf of Dr Usman Anwar has issued a notification of the above instructions to DIG Operations Lahore, all CPOs and DPOs. Front Desk and CCTV cameras in police stations, lockups:
Punjab Police has introduced a semi-autonomous complaint registration and management system using front desks at police stations.
Prior to front desks, the complaints were supposed to be recorded by the Moharar of the police stations. A large number of the complaints were not recorded and not made a part of the police record, lest any sort of initiation of legal action.
To deal with the issue, a front desk was introduced on which civilian IT, computer literate staff was engaged. Front Desks were set up right at the entrance of police stations. Any complainant could lodge the complaint, it was recorded and uploaded on the computer with an e-tag number.
Once an e-tag was marked on a complaint, it could be tracked by senior police officers, including the IG's office. This way an effort was made to slash the monopoly of police staff to discard, putting under the rug of the complaints.
Front desks had been set up at police stations. However, these were missing at police check posts popularly called as "Police Chowki". For the surveillance and monitoring purposes, CCTV cameras had been installed in lockups and police officers' rooms.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 9th, 2023.
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