Lapses in intelligence gathering, DGP issues fresh directives

Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
07 Jan 2011

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Despite repeated directives from the higherups, there had been serious lapses on the part of the local police in gathering intelligence inputs from the grassrootslevel, DGP Jacob Punnoose said. Concerned over this, the DGP has issued a fresh directive asking the City Police Commissioners (CPs) and District SPs (DSPs) to take immediate measures to ensure effective intelligence gathering from the police stationlevel.
The DGP has also prescribed a new set of procedures to the cops for strengthening the intelligence gathering machinery. The DGP's directive came amidst the frequent criticism against the police for lapses in intelligence gathering. "In spite of repeated directives, sufficient efforts are not being taken to collect intelligence at police stationlevel. Important information that may come to the notice of police functionaries at grassrootslevel is often ignored," the DGP said in a circular issued to the cops.
As per the existing directives, every station house officers (SHOs) will have to send weekly reports to the the CPs or DSPs concerned as well as the District Special Branch on the intelligence information gathered during routine enquiries, patrolling and beat duties. Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) has also been directed to ensure that the weekly reports are promptly submitted by the police stations.
New set of guidelines
Prescribing a new set of guidelines, the DGP has directed the CPs and DSPs to depute a subinspector or additional subinspector at each police station to prepare weekly reports on matters of intelligence value and submit to district special branch on all Thursdays.
The District Special Branch DySPs should consolidate the report and submit it to the CPs, DSPs, Range IGs, Zonal ADGP and IG (Intelligence). The CPs and DSPs should conduct weekly review meetings with Special Branch officials to ensure that the intelligence gathering machinery is functioning properly. Range IGs have been directed to hold quarterly review meetings of Special Branch officials and ADGP (Intelligence) and IG (Intelligence) shouldconduct regular inspections to ensure that the instructions are complied with. The DGP has also directed the CPs and DSPs to convene a meeting of SHOs and explain the need for streghtening the intelligence gathering mechanism.