Delhi police officials use Android Apps for better coordination

Millennium Post found most police officials, from the Delhi police chief to the constable, do possess smart phones. It has been observed that the maximum usage of such in-built features are accessed by constables, head constables, sub-inspectors. ‘Three-fourths of their duty hours, especially those below the rank of Station House Officer (SHO), are spent on his/her beat. This requires time spent outside their police station’, a police official said.

Smart phones have become a basic necessity for people who have to perform many tasks within a short time frame. ‘Recently, on the basis of a tip-off, I went on a raid to Bihar to nab a notorious criminal from his home town, whose hand-made sketch was with me. Somehow, he managed to escape but I found few photographs from his residence. I immediately took some photos and shared it with my SHO using WhatsApp (an android application). He further spread these pictures to other officials and within few days he was caught,’ an investigating officer posted at Mansarovar Park police station, said.

Apart from sharing photographs, videos and audio material related to the crime scene or investigations, navigation is also another feature that has made the smart phone indispensable. ‘As part of my duty I have to travel all over Delhi and sometimes in other neighbouring states too. With the help of such navigation features, I easily find my way,’ said Rakesh Kumar, a constable posted on one such Police Control Room van in south Delhi.

Another official said, ‘We are so stressed due to odd duty hours and sometimes we forget details about sections in the Indian Penal Code and other criminal laws. Now we just use Google on our mobile phones. Availability of opening online FIRs on mobile phones has become another option,’ he added.

A senior police official said, ‘The usage of smart phones has gradually improved policing in the city’.