TETRA  |  2013-02-26

Smart policing in capital, steel hub

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

“A modern control room, a network of PCR vans, a dedicated and improved TETRA communications system, GPS tracking of PCR vans, mobile police team, etc,.. will be part of the project,”

Quick response teams and advanced communication systems to beat organised crime — that is future perfect for Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad.

The Centre has, in principle, agreed to extend its mega city policing scheme to the three cities to meet their individual security challenges.

Under the ambitious plan, the Union government will share up to 60 per cent of financial burden for police modernisation programmes that include a panoply of networking and crime control gadgets.

“We had sent a detailed proposal last September as was sought by the Union ministry of home affairs. The same has been accepted in principle,” a senior police officer said.

The proposal will be further vetted by the ministry for fresh suggestions and guidance over security aspects involved. “We expect communication and queries by the end of March. The scheme will be implemented in a phase-wise manner like it has happened in seven major cities — Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad,” he added.

If the plan is successfully implemented, policing in the three crime-plagued cities of Jharkhand will witness a major facelift.

In Ranchi district, which has a population of 29 lakh, the law and order situation has been deteriorating despite it having 31 police stations.

The state is, currently, waiting for the release of central grants of Rs 60 crore this year under the police modernisation programme. A part of this money is expected to be allocated for mega city policing.

Confirming that the scheme was being extended to the three cities, DGP G.S. Rath said the proposal included upgrade of police control rooms, installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive pockets, special cells for emergency services and quick response teams.

“A modern control room, a network of PCR vans, a dedicated and improved tetra communications system, GPS tracking of PCR vans, mobile police team, number plate identification system, et al, will be part of the project,” Rath said.

He stressed that mega city policing would “remarkably improve” law and order in the three cities.

“At present, we work with limited resources. The new system will help us deal with terrorist outfits and crime syndicates in a better way. We do have PCR vans, but they ply within their areas of jurisdiction unless given specific instructions. But, the ambit will become bigger once the scheme is introduced,” he added.

Will the new policing scheme be able to curb crime?

Source: telegraphindia