The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Police find gizmos handy Law & order

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Saturday, May 24, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Police find gizmos handy Law & order

The advent of gadgets has made policing easy, says S. Vijay Kumar

With the presence of police at every vulnerable place becoming almost impossible, technology has come handy for the law enforcers. The advent of surveillance cameras, burglar alarms and wireless gadgets has made policing easy, taking into account the widening gap in the public-police ratio. Going by official records, only 3,000 police personnel are available to cater to the requirements of 15 lakh people in Madurai.

The advent of technological advancements has no doubt made policing easy. Besides wireless communication, including mobile phones, gadgets such as burglar alarms and surveillance cameras have contributed to curb crimes. Adding to this is the concept of engaging private security agencies that has received increased patronage among public and private establishments.

In Madurai, the launch of ‘Smart Sys’ has evoked a good response from the people. The then Deputy Inspector General of Police (Madurai Range), K. Jayanth Murali, introduced online messaging service enabling mobile phone users to pass on information to the police with an assurance that their identity would be kept in confidence. Hundreds of messages were pouring in on a daily basis though some were of personal nature or vague, a police official said.

On Thursday, Inspector General and Commissioner of Police, K. Nandabalan, convened a meeting of businessmen and appealed to them to use burglar alarms and engage private security guards. “The response was encouraging. We are looking at this initiative as a crime-prevention measure,” he said.

“Step up patrol”

Welcoming the move, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president S. Rethinavelu said that the police should step up patrolling in bullion bazaar and busy commercial streets. “Having private security, surveillance cameras and burglar alarms will act as deterrents to criminals, no doubt. But when it comes to taking action, the police are to be involved.”

Mr. Rethinavelu said that steps should be taken to avoid congestion in the bullion bazaar by dispersing unnecessary gathering of people. Designated places of meeting/demonstration in the vicinity of Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and commercial streets should be removed as it led to traffic snarls, he said.

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