The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon the police force to make use of technology smartly and sensibly as an instrument of peace as well as a force multiplier. He was inaugurating a National Community Policing Conclave at Kovalam near Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala today. The Minister said that the social media can tremendously empower the police in fostering police–community relationship, taking it to a new heights of communication and building of trust between the police and the people. He however cautioned that the use of social media by the security personnel needs to be done in a controlled and disciplined manner.
Shri. Rajnath Singh said that while community policing should be the guiding principle of police forces, prime focus should be given to building relationships. The police need to work hard every day to earn that level of trust and respect which helps them in bridging the gap between police and public, he added. Stating that police force should act in close association with the community, the Union Home Minister opined that community policing system should be institutionalised in the police force across the country in an effort to bridge the gap between the law enforcing agencies and the public. The efficacy of any police force lies in its relationship and engagement with the local community. He noted that internet and social media have completely changed the way policing was done in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Kerala Home Minister Shri. Ramesh Chennithala noted that the community policing initiatives of the state government had helped to reduce the crime rate in the state. The theme of this year’s conclave is “Smart Connect”. The two day conclave will deliberate and come out with concrete recommendations and guidelines for policy making with regard to community policing as an effective tool to combat radicalization, human trafficking, Left Wing Extremist issues and enhancing coastal security. It also focuses on SMART initiatives in community policing and community policing as a core policing strategy.