Crime Rate Controlled In 2016, Utilizing All Available Resources: CPO

RAWALPINDI, Jan 3 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Jan, 2017 ) : All available resources were utilized to control crimes in 2016 and due to solid steps taken by police, about 30 per cent reduction was noticed in dacoity and robbery cases, said City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi.

Addressing a press conference here Tuesday, he said Close Circuit Television cameras were installed at the city's entry and exit points while online monitoring system was introduced which helped to check activities of criminals.

The CPO said laptops and mobile phones were provided to the cops deployed at entry and exit points. He informed that total 18393 cases were registered in all police stations of the district in 2016.

Abbasi told, 21 kidnapping cases of 25 children were lodged during last year while 20 kidnapped children were safely recovered making recovery rate 84 percent. He further said, 97 inter-district and inter-provincial gangs were also busted by arresting their 363 members besides recovering cash amounting to over Rs 14.7 million, 75 vehicles, 67 motorcycles, 215 pistols, three revolvers, three rifles and 710 rounds from them.

The CPO informed that seven kidnapping for ransom cases were also registered in 2016 which were 12 in 2015. Similarly, 363 FIRs of robberies were lodged during last year which were 537 in 2015 while there were 33 reported dacoity cases in 2016 which remained 47 in 2015.

He said, over Rs 50.9 million were looted in all dacoity cases while police recovered over Rs 30.4 million and recovery rate remained at 49 percent. Likewise, considerable reduction was noticed in cases of vehicle snatching which remained 96 in 2016 and 137 in 2015.

The CPO said, total 1052 FIRs of vehicles and motorcycles thefts were registered during last year which were 1458 in 2015 showing 28 percent reduction.

Anti-car lifting cell managed to recover 181 vehicles and 140 motorcycles during last year, he said adding, police also recovered over 18 kg heroin, 1022 kg charras, 25665 bottles of liquor, 27 kalashnikovs, 1038 pistols/revolvers, 77 rifles/shot guns, 59 daggers and 5114 rounds during 2016.

He said, under the National Action Plan, Rawalpindi district police conducted 964 search operations and checked 57,934 houses, 324 hotels, two hostels and 223,000 persons during last year. The police also netted 4227 proclaimed offenders including 883 most wanted POs.

He informed the media that strict action in accordance with the law was also taken against 2191 negligent police officials. The ratio of crime rate in Rawalpindi city witnessed a downward trend during 2016 as compared to the previous year.

The CPO said, the police officers were directed to regularly monitor the crime situation and performance of the police officials. He said, all available resources are being utilized to control crimes and foolproof security arrangements were made particularly at public places in Rawalpindi district.

The special teams comprising senior police officials were constituted to check and curb heinous crimes and to monitor performance of police officials on weekly basis. Solid steps to change traditional �Thana� culture and improve image of police among the public were also taken, he added.

Stressing need of the concerted efforts he said, people should come forward to play their due role as joint efforts by law enforcement agencies and the general public would help eliminate crimes from the society. It is responsibility of the police officers to act in accordance with the law on the complaints of the aggrieved party, he said.