RAWALPINDI: Offline closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at front desks of various police stations in the province are making it difficult for the Punjab police chief’s monitoring cell to check the performance of police with regard to providing efficient service to the complainants.

According to sources, Inspector General of Police, Punjab, Arif Nawaz Khan has directed the police across the province to address the issues of CCTV camera system at each front desk on priority to enable the monitoring cell observe the police performance and their attitude towards public.

They said that the monitoring cell had been unable to get access and monitor the front desks properly.

The aim of establishing the front desks was to win public trust through prompt and timely redressal of complaints by continuous monitoring of police working.

The camera system is linked with IGP’s monitoring cell

The front desk CCTV system enables the central police office and the IGP to monitor the working of the field officers.

When a senior police officer was asked about the matter, he said that sometimes the CCTV system developed problems which were rectified by a technical team. However, the concerned DPOs and CPOs have been directed to address the issues of CCTV system at each front desk on priority by using the services of in-charge information technology and hardware/network technicians of the district.

The sources said that the authorities concerned had also been asked to ensure that CCTV system was properly accessible from the monitoring cell.

The individuals, assigned duty at the front desks, immediately report the complaints through a centralised online system and the complainants are handed over electronic receipts.

The senior officers monitor the whole system from different locations as any officer having link with the front desk can see the copy of complaint or FIR across the province.

Previously, the complaints were received through post or a person had to travel to Lahore to submit his complaint in person at the IGP office.

However, such complaints are now received by the front desks, which are directly linked to the monitoring cell.

Besides, a complainant can also view the progress on his/her complaint online and can send his feedback anytime online or through SMS.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2019