Karnataka police chief moots “Anytime Police” concept

Inspired by the ubiquitous Automatic Teller Machines (ATM), which help people access cash anytime, Karnataka’s Director General of Police R Srikumar has mooted the idea of “Anytime Police”.

“We want to remove the jurisdictional barriers for reporting and investigation of crimes. We can work as one unit across the State by re-organizing the existing system and making good use of the communication system”, Srikumar told reporters.

“I imagine that the whole state of Karnataka can soon function as a single police station, where one call centre receives and arranges for appropriate responses that are centrally monitored”, he said.

The Karnataka police have already launched the toll-free helpline (Ph: 100 or 1-800-4250-100), which has been made operational with a control room in Bangalore for the whole of state. Global Positioning System (GPS)-fitted mobile police patrol parties that are near the callers’ house will be sent to verify the complaints.

The public can file a petition before the police either by making a telephone call, send an SMS, fax, e-mail or even a post card. While people in urban parts of the state are expected to contact the police either by making a telephone call or sending an SMS, Srikumar felt that people in rural area would prefer to walk in to the police station and lodge a complaint.

“It is therefore necessary for make available convenient police posts and kiosks, where people can easily come and report a crime. Just as the Election Commission promises a polling booth within walking distance of two kms anywhere in the country, computerized kiosks should start functioning as soon as possible in rural areas”, Srikumar wrote in his blog available on the new Karnataka police website.

“I have floated this concept to make police more accountable and people-friendly”, Srikumar said.