‘Safe City Project leads to drop in street crime’

Street crime in Rawalpindi has significantly declined due to the partial installation of the Safe City project, with expectations of various areas achieving crime-free zone status upon the project’s completion, said Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfaraz Elpa.

The Safe City Project was launched in Rawalpindi in January this year and will be completed by the end of the current year. Currently, the project is operational in Rawalpindi Cantt and commercial areas of the city.

In an exclusive interview with The Express Tribune, Elpa said that the CIA has been fully mobilised to combat car theft in Rawalpindi. Modern policing methods have been introduced across all districts in the Rawalpindi region, resulting in an 80 percent success rate in crime prevention and investigation of serious cases, he claimed.

Addressing concerns about the rise in incidents of criminals firing on police, Elpa attributed this to improvements in the policing system. He highlighted the Dolphin Force's enhanced patrolling capabilities, equipped with modern technology, which has improved the immediate response to crime reports.

Elpa urged every individual of the city to actively participate in eliminating the growing trend of drugs and illegal weapons among young students. Elpa emphasised the commitment to eradicating the drug smuggling in the Rawalpindi region. He assured that no amnesty would be given to those who harass women and children. The RPO stressed the importance of community support in preventing the proliferation of illegal weapons and curbing the increasing use of drugs in educational institutions.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2024.