PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police on Thursday launched the ‘City Patrol Force’ in Peshawar as the first responder in case of any criminal activity, road accident and emergency situation.

The force’s launching ceremony was held at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines here with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the chair.

As disclosed in an official statement issued here, the CPF with the motto of triple S i.e. safety, security and service has the functions of the ‘first responder to all calls, hot pursuit of trouble shooters, prevention of street crimes, surveillance of anti-social elements, door knocking of persons released from jails and proclaimed offenders, snap checking, information getting, public facilitation and help, responding to 15 calls and SOS alerts and coordination with emergency services.’

It will function in Peshawar city and cantonment areas divided into 20 beats with 160 city patrol officers working in two shifts of eight hours each.

Well-equipped force will be first responder in case of criminal activity, road mishap, emergency situation

According to the statement, the force has 22 vehicles equipped with modern gadgets and facilities i.e. video camera, wireless system and computers.

In every vehicle, four personnel i.e. a sub inspector, two elite force personnel and a driver will perform duty.

A proper monitoring mechanism has been worked out for the force. A command desk has been established in Peshawar’s command and control centre in the East Cantonment police station, where the activities of each vehicle and staff are recorded.

A special SIM card had been installed in every vehicle to help show the duty position of every vehicle. No vehicle will go out of the areas under its jurisdiction.

On the occasion, the CM said the CPF would be equipped with GPS (global positioning system) and modern sophisticated weapons to avert any untoward incident.

He appreciated the police’s role in the province and claimed the provincial police were far better than those of other provinces.

“The city patrol force will be extended to other parts of the province,” he said.

The CM said the government didn’t interfere with transfer and posting of its employees and that the recruitment was made purely on the basis of merit.

He praised the police for sacrifices in fight against terrorism and crimes.

The CM said the PTI government had introduced police reforms and established police training centres and schools.

Provincial police chief Nasir Khan Durrani, who was also present in the ceremony, said the CPF equipped with all latest facilities would prove as a milestone to serve as a ‘first respondent’ force.

He said the ‘first responder’ concept in any incident and emergency particularly in urban cities was in effect all over the world where the police reached the spot in the shortest possible time.

“Keeping in view this concept, the City Patrol Force has been introduced. It will work as the first responder. Initially, it is being launched in Peshawar city and cantonment areas. Later, it will be extended to other districts keeping in view its performance,” he said.

The police chief said in other countries, that kind of force reached the place within 12 minutes of untoward incident. Our force will respond even in less than 12 minutes,” he said.

He said the CPF vehicles had the facilities of identity verification system, incident tagging, surveillance of persons released from jail, Tenants Information System and traffic updates.

The police chief said the provincial police were being equipped with the modern facilities.

He said approximately all activities of the force along with pictures and conversation of personnel would be recorded along scientific lines.

He said the KP police were the bravest force of the world and that its personnel were always ready to meet any eventually.

“Besides controlling crime, the force will also serve humanity,” he said.

Provincial ministers, MPAs, provincial chief secretary, home and tribal affairs secretary, additional IGPs, DIGs and other senior civil and police officers attended the function.

Earlier, the chief guest also administered the oath to the CPF personnel.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2016