Assuring to take policing in Telangana to the next level, DGP M. Mahender Reddy on Sunday said achieving uniformity in service delivery standards in all police stations in the State is one of his priorities.
He was speaking with media persons after assuming charge at his office in Lakdikapool here. The way policemen react when a complainant walks into a police station in Hyderabad and a police station in remote part of Adilabad could be different. It would be ensured that response of the police across the State would be the same in a given situation. “Service delivery standards need to be defined first for this,” the DGP said.
Technology would be used as a force multiplier. A surveillance camera can do the work of 100 policemen. The CCTV - Nenu Saitham (installing surveillance cameras involving communities) project in Hyderabad helped police contain incidence or detection of crime.
Presently, the city has 1.5 lakh cameras. Efforts are on to install 10 lakh cameras in three commissionerates of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda in coming days, he said. “This would be replicated across the State as flagship project,” Mr. Reddy said.
Special plans are on the anvil to involve all sections of society in community policing. Processes would be re-engineered to decrease work burden and improve work execution skills. Policemen would be encouraged to use mobile-based computing technology to work smart.
As the DGP referred to Home Guards and constables as “Home Guard officers” and “Police Constable officers” in his initial remarks, a scribe asked if they would be described as officers officially as well. “With the permission of the government, we will try to do so 100%,” he replied. Similarly, the issue of regularising Home Guards would be discussed with the government, he said.
Earlier in the day, a farewell parade was organised at RBVRR Telangana State Police Academy in honour of outgoing DGP Anurag Sharma, who was appointed Advisor to Home Department. Mr. Sharma thanked all officers and policemen for their cooperation during his tenure.
The new DGP observed that Telangana Police successfully faced naxalism, terrorism and communal challenges in the past three-and-a-half years. He was apparently referring to scepticism expressed by some that safety and security in ‘a small State’ with ‘small police force’ would be difficult when Telangana was carved in 2014.