Mumbai police to digitise work: Padsalgikar

Mumbai: Mumbai police is set to digitise various aspects of its functioning in a bid to cut down on use of paper, Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar said today.

"Right from day one of my becoming the police chief, it has been my priority to digitise the work and (effect) paperless communication," Padsalgikar told reporters at his office in South Mumbai.

To execute the initiative, high-speed internet, wifi connectivity and hi-tech connectivity will be put in place.

Police notices, so far typed or printed, which are sent to various police stations will become digital from June 1 and will be uploaded online, said the commissioner.

"With this, the police stations could go through the entire notice and can download or take print of only that part which is relevant for them," he said.

With regard to uploading of First Information Report (FIR) online, Padsalgikar said he will have to seek legal opinion to explore its feasibility.

The top cop said he also wanted to create a data bank for ease of internal administrative work of police so that "bio-profile" of every police officer will be just a click away.

"This will also start soon as the team is still gathering data of the officers. The data will mention about their service record, leaves, health etc," the top cop said, adding it took three months for the team to gather data of police officers.

He said upgradation of police lock-ups will also get completed soon, which will hopefully prevent any unfortunate incident concerning inmates in custody.

"Considering several deaths of the police officers, due to untimely duty hours and work pressure, we have started eight-hour shifts for lower and middle-rung police officers on an experimental basis," said Padsalgikar.

He said new shift is being implemented at Deonar police station where officers are now working in three different shifts.

Padsalgikar said this police station has been chosen as the suggestions for such shifts came from most of the officers from there.

"This particular initiative will be completed in five phases in the city, in which the first phase has started and next two phases will be completed in next month," the commissioner said, adding a review will be done after completion of first two phases.