Police move on to e-track

Cops undergo training to register complaints using special software; move will make tampering with FIRs impossibleu00a0The first decade of the 21st century is coming to an end and with it age-old policing methods are giving way to new, technology-based policing. Registration of cases online and increased use of social networking sites by traffic police to inform citizens about traffic diversions and regulations is already in the pipeline. There will be more of the tech-savvy policing methods in 2011. E-policingHundreds of policemen are undergoing training to register first information reports (FIR) online. A specially designed software will be used to do away with the paperwork at the police station. MiD DAY had first reported about this project which will be a pilot project in the city.u00a0 The state government plans to implement it across Maharashtra by 2012. Under this project called Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), all the police stations will be inter-connected online, making information about criminals and crime just a click away.A senior officer working for the CCTNS project said: More than 50 per cent of officers of the rank of Constable, Assistant Sub-Inspector and Superintendent of Police are undergoing training to use the software. Two modern and computer-equipped laboratories have been set up at the Swargate and Pimpri police station areas to impart the training.Transparency Though the online FIR can be accessed only by the authorities, the complainant will be able to get a printout on request. Tampering an FIR during the course of investigations will not be possible once registration becomes computerised. A fixed format will be given to officers under the CCTNS software. Once the details are entered, the file will be frozen and tampering will be impossible. This will benefit scores of complainants who doubt the integrity of police officers.Public participation Earlier, citizens were invited through newspapers to give suggestions and objection on traffic and other problems in writing. Now, the use of social networking sites for inviting suggestions and gathering information from citizens about various initiatives and actions of the traffic police is receiving wide response.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Manoj Patil said: Citizens are sending thoughtful suggestions to us on our Facebook page. We never expected such a huge response. Many of the officers were sceptical about the idea. However, it has turned out to be a big hit and we will try to involve citizens in every decision-making process.