The other public outreach initiative that the Coimbatore City Police had launched – WhatsApp number 81900-00100 – has seen rather tepid response.
According to sources, since the launch of the service on February 18, 2016, the City Police has got 2,657 messages. Of those, 2,341 were general inquiries; 316 were complaints.
Personnel handling the messages forwarded the complaints to the jurisdictional police officer/station concerned for further action while updating the complainant on the action taken.
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Soon after the launch of the service, the City Police received 50 to 60 messages a day and now that has reduced to around 20.
On a couple of occasions, the members of the public had sent information on incidents that took place outside the City Police jurisdiction but the police still followed it up by forwarding the details to the officer/station concerned.
Sources say that sometimes, the members also ask for information from the police – station or inspector number, traffic updates or other details.
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They add that the WhatsApp number has also helped the police organise green corridor to transport organs for donation.