How to use technology to track crime

Source- The post is based on the article “How to use technology to track crime” published in “The Hindu” on 16th March 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Security. GS2- Government policies and interventions

Relevance– Issues related to policing and law & order

News– Recently, a scam happened in Ludhiana. A person posing as the Central Commandant of Crime and Criminal Tracking extracted money from young men. They were issued fake IDs, promised jobs as investigating officers in CCTNS.

What are some facts related to CCTNS?

It includes the national database of crime and criminals. It connects police stations. It also digitise FIR registration, investigation and charge sheets.

The criminal justice systems should also be standardised, harmonised and integrated. Citizens should enjoy the same level of law and order, regardless of residence. CCTNS is designed to achieve that.

CCTNS influences the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).

What are issues with policing in India?

For IPC crimes, investigation rates are around 65%. investigation rates vary across the states. It is more than 95% in Gujarat, but just about 45% in Jharkhand.

Charge-sheeting rates also vary widely across states. For IPC crimes, the all-India average is just over 72%. It is over 90% in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala and West Bengal, but less than 40% in Assam.

There are variations across states in use of CCNTS. As of January 2022, 97% of police stations have been connected to CCTNS, but the figure is 77% for West Bengal.

There are reasons for this variation among states. Under-staffing is one of the reasons.

In 2016, the MHA brought out a model prison manual. Many states haven’t adopted this and have not updated their old prison manuals.

The agenda of police reforms has been stuck for years. Nothing much has been achieved through Model Police Acts. India is far away from achieving the principles of one country – “one police” and “one prison”.