RAWALPINDI: Glitches in the data entry have forced the police to maintain manual record of cases in the police stations and feed the details in computers through the front desks.

Observing lacking interest in the police working, especially after establishing the computerised front desks, the regional police officer (RPO) has directed the police to maintain the manual daily diary (Roznamcha) in all the police stations as computerised record could be unsafe due to the fear of hacking.

Since the introduction of the online computerised record keeping and data entry in the police department, the police had abandoned maintaining the manual daily diary (Roznamcha).

Keeping computerised data can be unsafe as hacker and virus attacks have become common, police say

The computerised data can be hacked and facts and figures can be changed or destroyed for nefarious motives.

And there is no denying the fact that the computerised data has not been safe because of hacking which has become common these days, the police said.

And due to virus attacks, the data could be destroyed any time as worldwide legislation is being made to save computers from such attacks.

Taking notice of the police working without maintaining Roznamcha, the Lahore High Court recently directed the station house officers and other police officials to maintain manual daily diaries.

The police investigating officers were also directed to compile their case files manually and then feed it into computers and get its printouts.

Police have also been directed to maintain register # 2 manually under police rule 1934 with date and time.

In case of failing to complete the Roznamcha, the station house officer and muharar of the police station will be held responsible for negligence and liable for departmental action.

A police official told Dawn that there had been mistakes in computerised record of cases and sometimes delays in saving the record.

He said according to police rules, it was mandatory for the police to write down each and every detail in register # 2 of the police station. But after computerisation, the police stopped writing down the details.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2019