LAHORE: The Punjab police have started installation of modern computer system in patrol vehicles to prevent crimes and arrest criminals on the pattern of police forces of other developed countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Declaring it another remarkable decision, a spokesperson for the Punjab police said the modern system has been activated in the patrol vehicles as per requirements.

He said the police have started installation of computer system in patrol vehicles in all districts of the province.

Sharing details of the new initiative, Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr Usman Anwar said the computer system would work in the style of e-police post and it would have data bank of all the stolen or snatched vehicles.

Facility will help officials trace stolen, snatched vehicles and arrest outlaws

He said the data on the proclaimed offenders wanted by the National Highway and Motorway Police, the police forces of other provinces and FIA have also been made available which can be used to track and arrest the criminals.

The IG said all the modern applications of the Punjab police designed to prevent crimes can be used in the patrol vehicles through the computer system, which will trace the stolen and other vehicles with distorted records and vehicles with fake number plates.

It would also help initiate the process of arresting other anti-social elements including fugitive criminals, proclaimed offenders and judicial absconders.

He said by virtue of the modern system, the working of the Punjab Highway Patrol and other patrolling police will be improved and the process of suppressing the criminals and vehicles used in crimes and the recovery of stolen vehicles will be expedited.

Dr Usman Anwar said the effective use of information technology played a key role in the fight against crime in the present era and this project of the Punjab police will limit the movement of criminals.

The decades-old traditional mode of investigation has been replaced by introducing modern policing to bring the criminals to the court of law.

The IG said with the help of e-police post and modern computer labs, Punjab Highway Patrol arrested dozens of proclaimed offenders and court absconders, which proved its effectiveness.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2023