Bangalore Cops Get the Sour Taste of Social Network

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. It does seem a good start to have an online surveillance and complaint media for the police and the people. It is promising and adds to the safety, security and better working of the police department. All of us can use extra help with safe guarding the city and be a part in it. It’s time to be that cop that we played as a kid, and catch the bad guys and to get the cops on track and not allow them to misuse authority.

The social network has been used as a tool for fighting crimes around the world. Criminals with a Facebook account have been nabbed by cops in the U.S. with the help of civilians or by creating a fake account by them. The proof found on the site can be used against the accused in the court of law. In San Francisco when a gunman went loose, a cop alerted the neighborhood by posting the message on the social website. These are only a few ways how social sites can be effectively used in law enforcement and safeguarding the society.

With the high crime rate our Maa, Mati, Manush Chief Minister in Bengal could take a leaf of the Karanataka police book and follow them.