‘Advanced tech helping police redefine crime control & emergency response'
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The security landscape in Uttar Pradesh is marked by formidable challenges that require not only deep knowledge and anticipation but also innovation, adaptability, and smart, swift responses.
Every day, UP Police confront vulnerabilities within the population stemming from socioeconomic disparities, the emergence of new-generation crimes, digital threats, and the persistent specter of terrorism. In such a dynamic environment, the adoption and integration of advanced technologies into policing is not just desirable, but essential. As crime becomes more sophisticated and society grows increasingly complex, technology serves as both shield and sword: strengthening our capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to criminal activity with greater precision and efficiency.
Examining the trends shaping the future of policing in Uttar Pradesh, it is evident that the coming decade will test the resilience and adaptability of law enforcement in unprecedented ways. Technology is rapidly rendering traditional policing methods obsolete, compelling the force to evolve at an accelerated pace.
For the leadership of the UP Police, the challenge is immense — how to police vast geographies effectively while acquiring and deploying cutting-edge technologies that can leapfrog the organization into a new era of transparency, accountability, and progressive service delivery.
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In response, the UP Police has been actively working to strengthen its crime detection and investigative capabilities. The widespread deployment of surveillance tools such as CCTVs, body-worn cameras, and drones is beginning to yield real-time evidentiary benefits.
Forensic science, too, is witnessing a major boost, particularly with the establishment of the State Forensic Science Institute in Lucknow — marking the start of a systematic and professional approach to capacity building.
As early as 2018, the UP Police introduced training programmes in data analytics, which have since proven invaluable in crime pattern recognition and criminal profiling, laying the foundation for smarter, data-driven policing.
While modernization is often associated with high-tech tools, one of its most critical domains is ensuring a smarter and faster response to citizen complaints. A few years ago, UP 112 was ranked the third-best emergency response call centre in the world, after Singapore and Sharjah — a testament to the state's commitment to modern, citizen-centric policing.
With a fleet of over 6,000 police response vehicles (PRVs), UP 112 handles an extraordinary 44 lakh hits each day, generating nearly 30,000 events. This 62% surge in event generation reflects a growing public trust and confidence in the police.
The introduction of Emergency Location Services (ELS), supported by Google, now enables pinpoint tracking of a caller's location — an improvement over the earlier Location Based Services (LBS) system, which depended on triangulation from mobile towers.
Since 2023, the adoption of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), an IP-based, programmable system, has made it possible to handle virtually unlimited concurrent calls, enhancing the centre's responsiveness during peak loads.
A PRV tracking feature allows a caller to monitor, in real time, the movement and status of the responding vehicle through a link shared at the moment the event is logged. The call masking facility — likely the first of its kind in any Indian emergency response system — ensures privacy for both callers and responders.
UP 112 has evolved into an integrated service hub, seamlessly linking police response with ambulances, fire services, railway police, cyber helplines, women and child helplines, disaster response units, the UP State Road Transport Corporation, and even private operators like OLA and Uber. By embedding advanced technologies at the frontline of policing, UP Police is redefining emergency response.
Parallel to operational modernization, the state has also made transformative investments in capacity building.
In 2019-20, a substantial budgetary allocation of Rs 6,500 crore was made for strengthening police training infrastructure. With the present govt's tenure witnessing an unprecedented recruitment drive — adding nearly 1.56 lakh personnel — the scale and methodology of training have undergone a shift.
Virtual classrooms now connect over 100 training sessions across the state simultaneously, enabling wider reach and uniformity in instruction.
The introduction of a Learning Management System (LMS) has made training more interactive, standardized, and accessible.
One of the most striking facets of UP Police's modernization drive has been its innovative use of social media as a tool for public engagement, transparency, and real-time problem-solving. The UP Police Twitter Seva stands out as the largest partnership between X and any govt agency in India.
What began modestly, with barely 500 followers, has now grown into a platform with over a million engaged citizens.
Recognizing the power and perils of the digital space, the force launched a dedicated Twitter handle in 2018 to counter fake news. This proved invaluable during the tense days surrounding the Supreme Court's Ayodhya verdict in 2019, when misinformation had the potential to inflame passions and disrupt peace.
By actively flagging and debunking false narratives, the police not only maintained order but also set a benchmark for proactive communication in crisis situations.
The UP Police is also investing heavily in tackling emerging threats such as cybercrime, dark web activity, and terrorism. From monitoring illicit online marketplaces to tracking extremist chatter, technology is now embedded at the core of preventive policing strategies.
The results are evident: increased police visibility, faster and more coordinated responses, and integrated citizen services that span from emergency helplines to digital complaint redressal.
In an age where the nature of crime is evolving as rapidly as the tools to fight it, UP Police's approach underscores a critical lesson — modern law enforcement is as much about bytes as it is about boots on the ground.
(The writer is former DGP of Uttar Pradesh and president of Indian Police Foundation)
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