After capital’s cops: Rawalpindi police go hi-tech to curb crime

RAWALPINDI:

Taking a cue from their counterparts in Islamabad, the Rawalpindi Police on Saturday launched an online vehicle checking system that will help trace and recover stolen vehicles.

The system has been developed free-of-charge by a private cellular company while the data of vehicles has been provided by the Excise and Taxation Department.

The Police Verification System is “easy to operate”, according to Potohar Town Superintendent Haroon Joya. Talking to reporters,
Joya said specialised SIMs will be handed over to police officials at all of the city’s checkpoints.

He said the registration data and chassis numbers of almost 1.4 million vehicles has been uploaded on the SIMs while the remaining data will soon be added to it.

“This electronic system will help recover stolen vehicles and nab suspected criminals,” Joya said.

He said details of vehicles registered before 2007 will also be uploaded on the SIMs.



“Besides, the data of all stolen vehicles has also been uploaded on the SIMs,” he said, adding that the Islamabad Police are already using the technology but the one employed in Rawalpindi is more advanced.

“With the enhanced technology, we will be able to trace vehicles stolen from other cities and brought to Rawalpindi,” he said.

Tracing criminals

The system also has records of wanted criminals who will be identified after entering their Computerised National Identity Card numbers on the special cell phone which will display their entire criminal record.

“The SIMs have all details including registered FIRs and are linked with Islamabad Electric Supply Company data, which will further aid police efforts. If a criminal pays any utility bill anywhere in the country, he or she will be identified from their CNIC number registered on the bill and the information will be displayed on the cell phone screen.

Moreover, Joya said the new system also has data of the Capital Development Authority, Rawalpindi Development Authority and property details of twin cities’ residents.

To check police performance

The SP said the verification system will also help the police department to evaluate hte performance of its officials as their daily efforts will be recorded.

A police official said a control room will soon be set up where the record of which police official is using which SIM and where will automatically be stored.

The system has been developed by Ufone which will be working on further improving it, he said, adding that police officials will first be imparted training to be able to use the technology properly.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2013.