Use this app to get prompt police help

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 10

The state police and the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, have recommended a personal safety app for smartphone users, especially women.

The police are working to ensure that the app, Smart 24X7, is applicable in all police districts.

Launched in January by the Union Home Ministry, the app has already helped prevent several crimes, including many in Punjab. But not many smartphone users are aware that they can seek immediate police help using this app.

Senior police officers confirmed that all district police teams will soon be equipped to handle and respond to this app.

Bhupinder Saini, its developer, said anyone who needed help was only required to press the red panic button.

“Within 15 seconds, information such as the sender’s name, address, blood group and a one-minute audio recording along with the real-time GPS location is sent to the control room as also to the the nearest PCR vehicle (only in Patiala as of now). The PCR then accesses the details of incident on its devices. A message is also sent to the victim’s parents and relatives or friends,” he stated.

The app is available free of cost on Android, Windows, iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones.

The app can be downloaded from the app store of the smartphone and can also be used without internet at the cost of one SMS. Once downloaded, the user is required to fill personal information. The user has to mention details such as blood group, phone number and his or her location. It allows users to feed five primary contact numbers of their parents, relatives or friends. If GPRS is not working, the alert will be generated via SMS.

“Last week a woman used this app in the city. A PCR team was rushed to the spot and rescued her from her husband who was allegedly physically abusing her,” said Gurmeet Chauhan, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala.

He said there was a need to create awareness about the app among the smartphone users.