NEW DELHI: Delhi Police is all set to literally catch criminals red-handed using biometric scanners. The force is replacing its entire ‘communication network’ and digitising it. In the first phase, it is procuring around 800 hand-held biometric Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices which would gradually replace old wireless sets.
The police have placed an order for procurement of 200 such devices wherein three companies—Motorola, HCL and Samsung—have made a bid to supply.
“The proposal to procure 600 more such devices for beat officers has also been moved by the Delhi Police and is in final stages,” said DCP Rajan Bhagat.
These devices would be connected to the main server located at Police HQ and Crime Branch office at Kamla Market where the database of around two lakh criminals with their photographs and other details would be stored. Almost half of the frontline police officers will have access to a mobile PDA device, said a senior officer.
Other benefits include the fact that the devices give officers on-the-spot access to vital information as well as allowing them to file reports from incident spots rather than returning to the stations.
“It will reduce average respond time of PCR van as well local police officials from 10 minutes to four minutes. The dispatch of call to the PCR van officials take an average of five minutes and involve two members of staff. With this device in place, only one staffer would be required” said the officer.
A device costs the force Rs 1.4 lakh with three years onsite warranty and support by the manufacturer.