Maryam Nawaz launches digital crime monitoring unit to track police performance

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday launched a digital crime surveillance unit to monitor police performance at district, circle and police station levels, as she expressed displeasure over complaints of unjustified delays in the registration of first information reports (FIRs).

The new system will enable authorities to monitor the performance of district police officers (DPOs), deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) and station house officers (SHOs), while providing updated crime data from every police station in the province at the click of a button.

During a visit to the Crime Surveillance Unit, Maryam spoke to officers deployed there and received a briefing from its head, Usman Tanveer. She also directed the Punjab inspector general of police to submit a plan for police reforms.

The chief minister ordered officials to ensure the proper use of data collected through the Police Station Record Management System and called for an immediate response to what she described as negative propaganda against the police.

According to the briefing, the unit will compile data on crimes under 20 categories and analyse the performance of police officers at different levels. It will also track complaints and applications submitted by citizens to ensure their timely resolution, with action possible in cases of delay.

Experts at the unit will prepare rapid data analysis reports to help authorities assess crime trends and police performance. The unit will also identify social media posts in line with national security requirements, according to the briefing.

Maryam said the provincial government wanted to rid Punjab of all forms of crime, adding that the unit had been established to make the campaign against crime more effective.

“Good and bad people are found everywhere, but criticising the entire force is not the right approach,” she said, according to a handout issued by the chief minister’s office.

She said it was wrong to question the overall performance of the police because of the actions of a few individuals, adding that a historical decline in crime following reforms in Punjab was encouraging.