Kalam moots nationwide database of criminals

BANGALORE: President A P J Abdul Kalam on Monday suggested that the police department plan a nationwide database of criminals to be made available at all police stations, with an option to update it continuously.

Mooting a five-point plan for effective and efficient functioning of the police department at the 37th All India Police Science Congress, which he inaugurated here, Kalam underlined the need to establish a police e-governance grid through high bandwidth network and generating an action plan for progressive induction of ICT in the police forces.

The Police Science Congress should consider promotion of research in the areas of police intelligence, police administration, police management and networking, he said.

Expressing concern over the existing low police to people ratio of 1:938 in the country, the President wanted it to reach at least 1:500 within the next three to five years to face the challenges ahead in maintenance of law and order.

"To attract and retain talented youth in the police force right from constable to officers, what we need is to design attractive service conditions with suitable pay package and perks," he advocated.

The pay package must be attractive enough to see that the police personnel at all levels will not succumb to extraneous considerations at any cost, Kalam said.