LAHORE: Inspector General of Punjab Police (IGP) Shoaib Dastgir has assigned fresh targets for the ongoing year and directed all field officers to follow the Faisalabad police for becoming the best performer in crime prevention and detection.

While chairing the first regional police officers (RPOs) conference since assuming charge, the IGP also issued instructions to shift focus to arrest of hardened criminals and ensure there were no custodial deaths.

Held at the Central Police Office, the conference was attended by the capital city police officer (CCPO), the city police officers, district police officers (DPOs) and other relevant officers from the CPO here on Tuesday.

The IGP said the success of all IT projects initiated for modern policing and smart working depended upon polite behaviour, diligent performance and quick response to public complaints.

“The time of exaggerating and hiding the performance of police is over now in the presence of government authorities, media and public awareness due to their constant check on the state institutions,” Mr Dastgir said.

Asks field officers to follow Faisalabad police

He said special attention should be paid to arrest absconders and proclaimed offenders involved. “I will not tolerate even a single incident of death in police custody as such incidents not only wash away the good work of the police, but also bring a bad name to the entire force,” the IGP said.

The CPO has already issued a zero-tolerance policy towards custodial deaths. He further said due to free registration of crimes, the number of untraced cases has increased alarmingly and special efforts were required to bring them down in 2020.

“The DPOs must personally visit the crime site in women and child rape cases and conduct investigation of such cases under their supervision instead of leaving them to the station house officers concerned,” the IGP said.

He directed to conduct DNA profiling and testing in each rape case of women and children so that the criminals could not get relief from the courts.

The officers not taking action against drugs dealers, land mafia and extortionists should be ready for departmental action, he warned. The officials and officers found guilty of illegal detention of suspects deserved no sympathy because they were bringing a bad name to the entire force, he declared.

The IGP added that crackdown on illegal arms licence holders should be intensified and actions taken against people involved in manufacturing metallic and chemical kite strings.

While acknowledging the performance of Faisalabad police in crackdown on criminals, the IGP said police teams of other districts should follow the district’s example. He issued orders to intensify search, sweep, combing and intelligence operations in all districts of the province.

The field officers briefed the IGP about actions and overall crime scene of their respective regions and districts.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2020