RAWALPINDI: The city police officer (CPO) has directed all subdivisional police officers (SDPOs) and station house officers (SHOs) to install close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all police stations within a week and submit a report.

The move came about after it was found during an inspection that majority of the police stations had no CCTV cameras and those installed in some stations were not functional.

CPO Abbas Ahsan directed the SDPOs to keep the digital video recorders (DVRs) at a safer place after installation of the CCTV surveillance system in police stations.

Under the directives, three CCTV cameras would be installed in every police station – at the main entrance, inside the lock-up and in the office of muharar.

Though the CPO made it clear that the cost on the installation of CCTV cameras in the police stations would be borne by the police department, the officials are in a fix how to arrange the devices without an advance payment.

In almost all police stations in rural areas, there are no CCTV cameras. However, in some urban police stations and those declared as model police stations surveillance cameras have been installed in the lock-ups, muharar offices, entry gates and SHO rooms.

A police source said the officials concerned may approach philanthropists to provide CCTV cameras for police stations.

He said funds for the installation of the CCTV cameras may be released by the CPO but the junior officials feared that they may not get the amount.

“Surveillance is a game changer; it helps the police bring down street crimes as well as improve investigation if properly installed and kept in a working condition.”

In 2011, a similar attempt was made by the then district police chief to install CCTV cameras at all important road crossings and a control room was set up to monitor traffic and check vehicle theft. But the plan could not materialise.

In 2005, the citizen community board with the assistance of the district police installed 45 CCTV cameras along three major roads in the cantonment area. A control room was also set up in Cantt police station to monitor activities of people and use the DVR recording when required by the police for investigation of cases.

But the CCTV camera project collapsed and 45 of the cameras installed in Saddar disappeared with the control room being closed.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2018