KOHAT, Jan 27: In view of the increasing attacks on the police in the NWFP since November 2006, intelligence agencies have advised officials of law-enforcement agencies to minimise their exposure and take immense care while patrolling sensitive areas during night.

The advisory, which was issued on Friday, said that some anti-social elements, who wanted to spread harassment, had ganged up with Taliban to target police and other government officials.

It said that crime against personnel of law-enforcement agencies was an international challenge, becoming more sophisticated with the passage of time. But in poor countries, the reasons for committing such crimes were totally different.

One of the major reasons, it said, law-enforcement agencies suffered from various shortcomings like shortage of manpower, lack of modern technology and proper training to enable them to understand the changing psychology of criminals. The biggest problem, it said, was that police was exposed during odd hours while patrolling in sensitive areas.

In the NWFP, it said, criminals formed gangs, including people from adjoining tribal areas. The tribesmen and the criminals generally regarded the government and the law-enforcement agencies as their enemies, obstructing their operations. The Taliban, it said, were taking advantage of this factor.

Moreover, the ongoing tussle between the centre and the NWFP government over the planting of explosives near the Chief Minister’s House allegedly by an Intelligence Bureau official had provided a chance to the criminals to exploit the situation to achieve their agenda.

The report suggested that law-enforcement agency personnel should be given training on modern criminology.