New Delhi, Jan 9: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Thursday that the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) is dedicated to transforming India’s police force into SMART units to effectively tackle various challenges. This transformation will equip them with essential intellectual, physical, and organizational resources.
During a meeting with BPR&D officials, Shah emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts involving stakeholders and partnerships with reputable international institutions for conducting research and projects, as per an official release.
The concept of SMART policing was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the DGPs conference in Guwahati in 2014. It aims to implement systematic changes to make the Indian Police: Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Tech-savvy and Trained (SMART).
Shah highlighted that under PM Modi’s guidance, BPR&D is focused on transforming the Indian police into SMART forces, enhancing their capabilities to address the challenges associated with policing and internal security.
He directed for an expanded global outreach and scope for BPR&D projects and publications to maximize benefits for police forces and improve their public image. Additionally, he called for a streamlined approach tailored to support all facets of the criminal justice system based on their specific needs.
Shah stressed the importance of a ‘Make in India’ framework to fulfill policing requirements and urged for greater participation from stakeholders in the criminal justice system, states, Union territories, and the Ministry of Home Affairs to identify problems and devise effective solutions.
He reviewed BPR&D’s six divisions and associated units, taking stock of their accomplishments, ongoing initiatives, and future strategies.
In his remarks, the minister also examined BPR&D’s progress in implementing new criminal laws.
During discussions, Shah suggested that BPR&D, along with the NCRB, prison officials, and forensic experts, should analyze crime patterns and methodologies.
He urged the BPR&D to conduct research focused on identifying challenges faced by law enforcement at the community level and to work on finding solutions.
The home minister praised the bureau’s efforts in training and modernizing police forces, highlighting the need to upgrade existing processes to meet contemporary challenges.
He reiterated BPR&D’s role as the key agency linking the Ministry with all states and Union territories and assured his support for the bureau’s efficient functioning. (Agencies)
