Metro asked to install facial recognition system

New Delhi: Delhi Police have written to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) asking it to install facial recognition system in Delhi Metro, which will help police detect criminals who have been involved in crime inside the Metro network.

According to police, the letter was written two months ago, wherein it was stated that across the world in major cities which see heavy crowds, cameras equipped with face recognition are installed.

With the footfall in Delhi Metro increasing regularly, face recognition technology will assist the police in identifying criminals.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Metro) Pankaj Singh said, "In the letter, we have asked them (DMRC) to provide access to facial recognition system to Delhi Police, so that if any criminals come inside the Metro network, the facial recognition technology will alert them."

In facial recognition system, the photographs of former convicts and wanted criminals are fed into a system and alerts will be sent out if any of the cameras capture a known offender loitering in the area where it is installed.

Police sources told Millennium Post that the latest 'compendium of criminals' includes names of those criminals who have been involved in multiple crimes in Metro trains and within the jurisdiction of Metro police.

The 74 page document includes coloured photographs, criminal history and the place where the accused belongs to or lives.

"The documents has been sent to all Delhi Metro police stations as well as Metro stations to keep a tab on the criminals," said a police official. The latest compendium had 148 names of criminals, including women.

In the year 2017, police had registered more than 12,000 cases, which includes e-FIRs.

Most of these cases pertained to pickpocketing and bag lifting. More than 20 per cent of cases were solved.