City cops get new tablets

Vadodara: Police in the city are brandishing new tablets these days. The state govt has allotted hundreds of tablets to police, to improve their efficiency and maximize the use of technology in policing. Senior police officials said the tablets will help their department handle their work more effectively.
"The govt allotted us 350 tablets that have already been distributed to police stations and other departments. The tablets have the e-GujCop application loaded, which helps us in daily policing. All data on crimes, including stolen vehicles, is fed on the app. Whenever we find a suspicious vehicles, we can quickly find if it is stolen, using the tablets," said Narasimha Komar, city police commissioner.
The tablets also have the e-Sakshya app that allows police to take photos and videos of evidence on the spot, apart from recording searches. "The tablets are faster and the big screen helps us use them smoothly," Komar told TOI.
All police stations have been allotted a total of 234 tablets, apart from one each to the senior officials. The detection of crime branch (DCB), special operations group (SOG) and prevention of crime branch (PCB) have also got 10 tablets each. The tablets are now being used to issue e-summons to witnesses on email IDs or WhatsApp, apart from passport verification work.
"Now, the police need not travel all the way to the homes of witnesses or those involved in any case to issue summons. We send summons online and keep screenshot as evidence," Komar added. Traffic police will use the tablets to keep a record of those flouting the rules.