Bangalore:
If you have been ill treated by any cop in town or find it hard to deal
with them and been thinking of how to speak your mind about the police
and their way of doing business, now there is a solution to all your
concerns. You can give any suggestions or file complaints on cops
misbehaving, even tips on crimes or related information just by logging
on to the social network which is assured to yield results.
Bangalore Police has taken an initiative to start an online interactive site for the people. So fret no more. This site will be the tool to keep a watch on city police, from the citizen point of view. It will also help the police to keep a better surveillance with the information posted by people about any conniving act or threat to the city. This seems like a win-win situation both for the people and the cops. It’s just a matter of time before we find out how far this might work.
Bangalore police commissioner BG Jyothi Prakash Mirji said "Citizens can host their grievances, suggestions, tip-offs and complaints against anyone through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Foursquare, and blogs, forums and online communities. We have assigned eight personnel for monitoring these social media round the clock. Complainants will be provided feedback" as reported by TNN.
People can log on to Bangalore city police Facebook site for assistance, or to file complains which will be followed up by the police department. This set up was expected four years ago in Bangalore, in 2008 after the serial blasts in the city created turmoil.
When asked about the reason behind this set up Mirji explained “Poor response of police or government agencies to discussions in the virtual world may have serious repercussions on law and order. We saw in the cases of the Mangalore homestay attack and exodus of north-eastern citizens how sensitive issues can be twisted out of context with these modern tools. Social media, obviously, have a corrective potential too, and we hope to tap into it,” as reported by TOI. He also added that their goal is to be in sync with the current generation and adopt modern method in terms of communication between the people and force.
The Havas Worldewide Digital Matrix is the partner in this initiative with the police. Its CEO said they are expecting 130 million users of social networks in 2014 in India.
Deputy chief minister R Ashoka said about this arrangement that he has always hoped for a healthy interaction between people and police. This step will pave the way for an active participation of people in playing the social cops.
