LAHORE: The Lahore police have launched a crash training programme for station house officers (SHOs) and moharrars at all 84 police stations to make them proficient in legal and IT skills, following reports that many were still using traditional methods for lodging first information reports (FIRs) and managing crime cases. There were serious complaints of intentional or accidental manipulation of FIRs.

An official privy to the development said the courses were introduced after police leadership identified 216 FIRs manipulated by SHOs in two city divisions. In some cases, sections were applied to favour certain parties, and in others, legal misunderstandings were evident.

The official added that while Punjab police had recently updated the infrastructure of all police stations, equipping them with IT-based systems, many SHOs and moharrars lacked the skills to utilise these modern initiatives, continuing to follow outdated practices.

Also, many serving SHOs were reportedly unaware of recent amendments to rape laws and some struggled to address the National Action Plan, established by the Ministry of Interior for countering terrorism and extremism.

A standardised testing programme has been developed for both categories of administrative officials, who are considered essential to police station operations. The programme’s aim is to replace traditional approaches with a human resource pool trained in legal and IT-based initiatives. The department plans to train batches of serving SHOs and others in a two-week course to create a pool of nearly 400–500 skilled and trained officials.

The programme will become a permanent feature in the Lahore police system, with eligibility for SHO appointments contingent on completing this training. The current initiative will enhance the legal knowledge, operational efficiency, and technological adeptness of those serving in administrative roles at police stations.

Lahore Operations DIG Faisal Kamran stated that 322 candidates, including existing moharrars, assistant moharrars, and other personnel, have already taken an assessment exam. This exam covered police regulations, procedural roles and responsibilities specific to moharrars, focusing on police records and legal compliance.

To support the department’s digital transformation, the DIG said, the exam included questions on digital tools used at police stations, such as PolCam, Safe City Portal, Front Desk software, and the Criminal Record Office (CRO) system. These technologies are being integrated to streamline processes, improve record-keeping, and provide better services to the public.

Candidates who pass the initial test will undergo further training in police station digital and IT systems. According to DIG Kamran, “This approach is intended not only to improve station-level documentation of crimes but also to enhance public accessibility and convenience.”

With skilled personnel managing technology-based systems, police records can be maintained in a more organised, accessible, and efficient manner. The DIG said the structured testing and training framework aims to strengthen law enforcement at the station level, supporting broader objectives of crime reduction and timely justice.

“This system will not only improve the overall functioning of police stations but also enhance duty allocations, record accuracy, and service quality for the public,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024