KARACHI, Oct 8: The Anti-Car Lifting Cell has been reorganized and given under the supervision of the DIG Karachi, and the task of registration of FIRs and investigation of such cases has been given to the local police.

Under a new order issued by the Inspector General of Police, Syed Kamal Shah, SHOs, SDPOs and SSPs responsible for an increase in such heinous crimes would be liable for a departmental action.

The order issued by the IGP here on Monday said car thefts and snatching have increased manifold and are increasing day-by-day due to high yields and low risk.

The growth of city along with many roads leading to various directions and destinations has made the vehicle theft an easy crime which are either taken outside the city limits or are dismantled and quickly disposed of, said the IGP.

The order further stated that in the current system, great inconvenience is being caused to the people as FIRs are being registered by the ACLC. Since the responsibility of registering the case does not rest with local police, they consider themselves absolved of detection of this heinous crime. Primarily, the responsibility of prevention and detection of vehicle theft and snatching lies with the local police.

As such the police station shall continue to be responsible for the intelligence collection, registration and investigation of cases and arrest of suspects.

“The SHOs, SDPOs and SSPs shall be responsible for car theft/snatching in their area of jurisdiction. Any increase in this crime shall make them liable for a departmental action,” the order said.

However, the ACLC shall continue to function and it shall reinforce the efforts of the local police in prevention and detection of vehicle thefts and robberies. In order to streamline the working of both the units, charter and functions of the local police and the ACLC have been laid down.

Under the new charter of functions, the ACLC shall work directly under the supervision of the DIG police Karachi and will comprise SSP Operations, SSP Investigation, DSP administration and other staff as per approval of the IGP.

The functions of SSP Operations will be to organize an intelligence network to identify local, inter-district and inter-provincial gangs involved in this crime, arrest the culprits involved, recover stolen and snatched vehicles. He will also develop inter-district and inter-provincial coordination with the police, monitor and analyse the crime by study of trends, modus operandi and other factors.

The SSP Investigation will be responsible for arrest of culprits of vehicle theft and snatching, investigation of cases in which gangs are arrested by ACLC staff or local police involving gangs operating in Karachi or outside, interrogation of suspects, detection of other cases through proper investigation, recovery of stolen and snatched vehicles and maintenance of database of vehicle theft and snatching.

According to functions set for local police, on receipt of information of car snatching or theft, the duty officer or SHO shall immediately inform the police control about the details of the vehicle and suspects. The police control will direct the mobiles patrolling in the area for an immediate picketing to arrest the offenders and recover the vehicle.

The duty officer of police station shall immediately register the case and shall send a copy of FIR to the ACLC for an information. The investigation shall continue to remain with the police station.

The SSP concerned and his subordinate staff shall be responsible for investigation and recovery of the vehicle. The performance of an SHO shall be gauged by the prevention and detection of stolen and snatched vehicles.

As regards the involvement of police officers in this crime, the DIG Karachi shall identify such officers through SSPs and ACLC. In addition, the DIG Crime shall identify such officers and report their particulars to the IGP and on the basis of this information departmental and legal action will be taken against those officials.—PPI