Ludhiana Commissionerate all set to launch revamped emergency response system to better policing

Taking a leap forward in technological advancement in the policing system and to improve the real-time response to any emergency call or law and order situation, the Police Commissionerate, Ludhiana, is set to launch a revamped Emergency Response System (ERS). Under this one-of-its kind initiative, which is the brainchild of Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, scattered units are being brought under one roof for better and immediate coordination while dealing with any emergency call or law and order situation.

The process to launch the system is already on and an ACP-rank officer has been entrusted the task to complete the process in days to come.

The scattered units that are being brought under one roof are Safe City/Smart City Control Room, District Control Room, Women Helpline (1073), Wireless Control and 112 (police toll free) control room. Though the units were situated in the Police Lines, the same were lying fragmented. Earlier, it used to consume time in case of any urgent inter-departmental communication required to deal with any situation. Now by putting them under one roof, all departments will sit shoulder to shoulder and they will have better coordination and response time will definitely improve.

The Commissioner of Police while confirming to The Tribune about the development said it was one of his dream projects and the same will be launched soon.

“The Commissionerate is already having the best reaction time to any emergency call and with this new emergency response system, our real-time response will improve drastically as all departments sitting under one roof can coordinate in seconds and information can be passed immediately for required action. Otherwise, the scattered departments are already working in their respective places in the Police Lines and communicating through calls only. In the coming week, the commissionerate will launch the system for the benefit of residents,” Sharma said.

He said once the system was made active under one roof, 50 to 60 police officials would remain on job for day and night and it would contribute in making policing more result-oriented.

ADCP (Traffic) Gurpreet Purewal, who is superivising the ongoing work of transition of scattered units into one unit, said the ERS would help ensure timely resolution of all emergency calls.

“In the old set up, if any law and order situation call received at the district control room and they need to check cameras, control room staff will telephonically ask staff of Safe City Cameras to check CCTVs to gauge the sensitivity of the situation but under the new system, all units will sit together and in such a situation, the staff can also see cameras immediately and quick decision can be taken,” he said.

It is learnt that ACP (Traffic) Jatin Bansal has been playing active role in bringing the units together under one roof.

Now, iPads installed on 34 vehicles for quick communication

The Ludhiana police have also installed technologically advanced iPads in 34 vehicles, including four electric vehicles. These are deployed at strategic places and also keep patrolling. After receiving any emergency call at the control room, whichever vehicle is near the crime scene, message will be delivered on its iPad, which will also sound alert. Police officials after receiving the alert first accept the task and then rush to spots. “The iPads have made police personnel more accountable and responsible as it records their real-time response to the emergency situation and if on-the-spot resolution is ensured, they have to update the same on the iPads. If parties are referred to police station, the update needs to be made accordingly. In future, all police vehicles will have these iPads. A similar system is also active in mobile phones of 13 two-wheeler PCR teams through a mobile app.