Crimes often go unreported, while victims endure long delays and mandatory searches while entering police stations to file FIRs. These police stations lack proper interview facilities which frustrates crime victims and police officials, said a press release issued by the US Embassy on Monday.
The statement added that the laborious process for filing FIRs will improve due to an innovative partnership between the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police, the US government’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Agency (INL) and the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP). The ICT Police has developed an innovative concept to create special Police Reporting Rooms (PRR) in areas adjacent to police stations, where crime victims would be spared the difficulty of having to enter secure areas of police stations.
The US government, through the INL and ICITAP, ahs helped the ICT police formulate this modular plan for purpose built PRRs that could be easily constructed and replicated. The INL funded the construction of 12 PRRs in Islamabad, which will serve as models for stations all over the country.
“Criminals cannot be pursued or prosecuted unless the police are aware that a crime has been committed,” said US Embassy INL Director Richard Sacks, at a ceremony inaugurating the first PRR at the Shalimar Police Station. “By creating reporting rooms that are easily accessible, comfortable, well-lit, and quiet, victims will be more likely to take the important step of filing a FIR,” he said.
Police Inspector General Bani Amin Khan thanked the US government for supporting the ICT Police, and said, “These reporting rooms will not only help crime victims, but also make it easier for the police to record and investigate crimes.”
The press statement stated that the US government was committed to strengthening law enforcement in Pakistan. In addition to building PRRs and other infrastructure, the INL had also donated equipment to improve policing. It had provided 11 armoured personnel carriers, more than 3,000 protective vests, hundreds of mobile and handheld radios, 100 motorcycles, and a water tanker to provide drinking water to police forces in KP and FATA. The INL has also trained police officers from KP, Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab, the ICT, FATA Levies, and other civilian law enforcement entities in areas such as leadership, criminal investigations, human rights, civil disturbance management, and police command and control.
The IGP said the modern reporting section would help residents register complaints without any difficulties. He said similar sections would be opened in the remaining police stations, and work in this regard was under way.
“We will facilitate people and try to solve their problems, I have directed all police stations to utilise their energy towards serving the masses,” Khan said.
