Sindh police chief orders inspection of police stations

KARACHI: Sindh police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon on Monday ordered inspection of police stations. He also stressed the need to deploy the best officers on duty at police stations in line with the demands of the public.

In a meeting chaired by IGP Memon at the Central Police Station, the DIGs discussed all issues and measures regarding formal and informal inspections of police stations and sub-stations in terms of police regulations and rules. Memon said that in view of the best interest and best service to the public, all DIGs and SSPs should ensure formal and informal inspections of the police stations under their respective jurisdictions.

He said that all possible steps should be taken to further improve the working environment at police stations and the training and service of the staff in light of the findings of the inspections. He directed that the order, security and use of police files and property of cases should be ensured, while discipline within the police force should also be ensured.

He said that all DIGs and SSPs should take measures to increase the available manpower at police stations and ensure that unnecessary manpower is made available to police stations.

He also said that the police is a uniform disciplined force, so it is necessary to deploy the best, most skilled and most experienced officers on duty in police stations in accordance with the demands of the public and to ensure people-friendly policing. The IGP recommended proper use of the budget provided to police stations, and to enable all steps to be taken to gradually promote an independent policing process. He also recommended strict measures against the drug mafia and the declared offenders involved in drug crimes.

Earlier, the police chief had held a meeting on the investigation department and the record management system. The crime & investigation DIG had briefed the meeting on the procedure for registering cases in the Police Station Record Management System and other issues.

The DIG indicated that this system would establish an effective digital surveillance mechanism, where cases would be digitally recorded and the measures taken in this regard would be updated on a daily basis.

“We are going to ensure a successful and fruitful policing initiative. It will be a system that is bound to bring extraordinary improvements in the investigation and legal sector,” the AIG on Gender Crime and Human Rights informed the meeting that the Sindh police has the distinction of being the first to implement the Sex Offenders Registration Act under the Federal Anti-Rape Act, 2023.

The AIG said the Anti-Rape (Sex Offenders Register) Rules were formulated on September 13, 2023, under the Federal Anti-Rape (Investigation & Trial) Act, 2021. “These laws will enhance the investigation, prosecution and monitoring of rape cases.”

He said that according to the SOP, the district police officers, the district head of the Criminal Investigation Department, the legal DSP and the SHO would register in the sex offenders registry established at the National Police Office, regarding the registration, follow-up and verification of sex crimes. In addition, he added, more training and courses are being organized to improve the investigative capacity of the detectives of the special units for investigating sex crimes.

The IGP said that the Investigation Branch plays a key role in policing and investigating cases. “Our criminal justice system stands on the investigation department and the improvement of this department is the guarantee for the improvement and promotion of policing.” He said that the Sindh government has also increased expenditure on investigations, including the release of an additional basic salary every month, to improve the investigation department.