Delhi Police to go hitech with interrogation

Delhi Police is planning to modernise its interrogation system and bring it at par with that in western countries by setting up two hi-tech interrogation centres.

Earlier this month, Delhi Police invited tenders for setting up these new centres fitted with Internet Protocol (IP) surveillance systems. The centres would be equipped with high sensitivity microphones, high resolution LCD monitors and video recorders. But to the convict, these rooms would look like any other room as the equipment would be concealed. The police would also be able to maintain an audio-visual database of every interrogation.

The centres are being set up for the Delhi Police’s elite Special Cell, which investigates anti-terror activities. The gadgets and equipment can record and transmit everything directly to senior officials in the police headquarters. As transmission will happen in real time, senior officers can prompt investigating officers while interrogation is on. 

There are nine interrogation centres across the capital. A senior official said, “The new centres should be completed by mid-2009. The tender procedure would end in February.”