The Hindu : Quantum jump in police communication

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 23, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Quantum jump in police communication

By G. Anand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 22. The State police are all set to make a quantum jump in their communication abilities by installing a wide area computer network messaging infrastructure that would enable quick data transfer using hotline voice, video and e-mail modes.

The first phase of the proposed network, which links all district police offices with the State Special Branch headquarters and the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, is nearing completion. The network will carry instructions and messages in the form of e-mail to all offices and will provide uninterrupted hotline voice service.

The Principal (Police Training College), K. Padmakumar, who is currently training officers for manning the network, said the project was mooted by the Director General of Police, K.J. Joseph, with the aim of bringing about more efficiency and economy of operation into the existing police communication infrastructure.

The network which relies on high bandwidth dedicated lease lines will have separate channels for voice communication using Voice Over IP (VoIP) technology. A full-fledged computer room has been set up at the Police Training College to give hands-on training to officers. Ashok Yadav (SP) is the project officer.

Mr. Padmakumar said that improving service to the public in handling of enquiries, requests and reports would be a key feature of the network. The public would be able to contact the police via e-mail which would be routed through the public relations branch of the department.

The second phase of the modernisation project involves the creation of various databases on criminals, lost and stolen vehicles, missing persons, newly registered vehicles, pictures of criminals, organised gangs, private security agencies, wanted persons, absconders and proclaimed offenders. Police investigators will be able to access this database through the network.

Upgrading the communication backbone is an integral part of the State police modernisation scheme. The second phase of the scheme will extend network connectivity to the police station level. It would help the department eliminate repetitive and time-consuming manual duplication of records.

At the police station level, the network will help eliminate delays in case registration and investigation, easy maintenance of registers and generation of reports and data that would enable analysis of crime-related data.

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Quantum jump in police communication