Kolkata Police enhances surveillance with mobile CCTV monitoring by officer-in-charges (OCs)
Times of India | 1 November 2024
KOLKATA: Days after the brass of Kolkata Police instructed officer-in-charges of various police stations under Kolkata Police to stay updated on the proceedings at the police station and ensure that investigating officers are sticking to their jobs, the OCs have now been instructed to keep track of their police stations by keeping an eye on the CCTV feed available from the police station.
From now on, OCs will compulsorily view live footage of what is happening inside the police station directly on their mobile phones. According to police sources, the CCTV cameras installed for surveillance inside the station will allow OCs to watch live footage from anywhere on their mobiles, a feature now available on all CCTV cameras.
Additionally, they will be able to listen to recorded conversations of the on-duty police officers regarding complex issues. As a result, they can quickly issue instructions to resolve any issues that arise in the station. Police officials hope this will prevent officers and staff from shirking duties and reduce the risk of mistreatment of complainants.
Every police station under Kolkata Police is equipped with 20-25 cameras for surveillance, with footage viewable on screens at the station and division office. Surveillance is currently managed through these means. In some cases, live footage from the station can also be viewed from Lalbazar. However, until now, OCs relied on other officers to get updates about the station while on duty on the streets or at home. With the new system, they can directly monitor the current situation at the station from anywhere via their mobile phones.
An official from Lalbazar mentioned that several OCs are already using this method to keep an eye on other officers in the station, and it is expected that others will follow suit.
An officer from a police station explained that it is not always possible for him to be present at the station. However, there have been complaints of negligence against the police officers stationed there. Therefore, this method was adopted for surveillance. It allows OCs to monitor what the on-duty police officers are doing or saying through their mobiles.