NETWORKED - Police plan a more mobile squad

Talks On With Phone Firms To Give Entire 39,000-Force Cells

By Mateen Hafeez/TNN

Mumbai: The Mumbai police has fresh plans to make its force mobile—fitting its 39,000 policemen and policewomen with cellphones.

Senior officials are negotiating with two cellphone companies to get handsets and SIM cards for the staff. “Talks are in their final stage and will be wrapped up in a week,’’ joint commissioner of police (administration) P K Jain said. The target is to provide cellphones to at least all the lower rung policemen (from constables to assistant subinspectors).

“We have asked for concessional rates for 39,000 connections. The firm that gives us a higher concession will, obviously, be given the contract,’’ Jain said. “The handsets will be bought and the bills paid by the users. We are trying to get a concession so that everyone in the force can afford it.’’ However, he declined to provide details of the “concession’’ offered by the two companies, BPL and Reliance.

“We have been talking about connectivity. I want to reach each person in the force. We are trying to make our policemen more technology-savvy,’’ Jain said.

But officials said the scheme will not be mandatory. “This facility will not be forced on anyone. Our aim is to get the best deal for our personnel. Those who want this facility will have to register with the company through the Mumbai Police,’’ an officer said. But officials admitted that the scheme would improve efficiency. The city police had chalked out similar plans in early 2004 during the tenure of police commissioner P S Pasricha, but things had not worked out. Officials hope to be successful this time.

The Times of India, May 25, 2005