Computer experts to make cops IT-savvy

The state police have decided to recruit computer experts who will be posted at police stations to train police personnel to use computers and tackle cyber crime cases. Confirming the move, director general of police AC Sharma said, “the police department plans to recruit 2,300 computer experts.”

The move assumes significance in a state, where according to additional director general of police (law and order) Jagmohan Yadav, at least two cases of cyber crime, including ATM, mobile, and internet fraud are reported every day. In addition to making the police cyber-savvy, the state government plans to open a special police station at the divisional headquarters to tackle the cyber crime cases.

Thus, in a departure from the wireless and telephone era, the computer experts will train the force to keep track of criminals through computers with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) project expected to be implemented by March 2014. Once the system is in place, a policeman can get information about the movement of criminals and the details of various crimes committed by him in the state.

“All the police stations and offices would be computerised and connected with one another,” an officer said. The union home ministry had launched the CCTNS for strengthening internal security after 26/11 when Lashkar-e-Taiyaba terrorists attacked Mumbai.

The CCTNS project aims at a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the effectiveness of policing through e-governance, and creation of a statewide network for evolution of an IT-enabled state-of-the-art tracking system for investigation of crime and detection of criminals.

The police department had earlier launched a training programme to make the police constables computer savvy. The officers of the department prepared a manual for primary users. But, as the police force was large, the training was slow. Thus, the decision to appoint experts was taken to expedite the process.