The Indian police force is dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens of India, and in recent years, has taken steps to modernize and improve its services to the public. One of these steps has been the creation of the national Digital Police Portal India and state-specific digital police portals, comprehensive online platforms that provide citizens with easy access to a variety of police services and information.
Ministry of Home Affairs and the Digital Police Web Portals in India
The Ministry of Home Affairs has played a critical role in the development and implementation of the Digital Police Portals in India. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the administrative purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs launched the national Digital Police Portal (https://digitalpolice.gov.in) on 21st August 2017. This online platform provides citizens with access to a variety of police services and information at the central level, including:
i) Missing Persons search;
ii) Generate Vehicle NOC;
iii) Proclaimed Offenders information; and
iv) Locate Nearest PS
In addition to these services, the national Digital Police Portal also provides access to a number of other services provided by state police citizen portals, including:
i) Filing of complaints to the concerned Police Station;
ii) Obtaining the status of complaints;
iii) Obtaining the copies of FIRs;
iv) Details of arrested persons/ wanted criminals;
v) Details of missing/ kidnapped persons;
vi) Details of stolen/ recovered vehicles, arms and other properties;
vii) Submission of requests for issue/ renewal of various NOCs (Procession, Event/ Performance, Protest/ Strike etc.);
viii) Verification requests for servants, employment, passport, senior citizen registrations and so on; and
ix) Portal for sharing information and enabling citizens to download required Forms
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also launched the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) (https://cybercrime.gov.in) on 30th August 2019, where citizens can report incidents of all types of cyber crimes, including cyber crimes against women and children. Citizens across the country can access these citizen-centric services through the digital police portals. Authorized users of law enforcement agencies and state/UT police can access crime and criminal databases using a secure network.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. The Digital Police Portals are part of the government’s efforts to celebrate “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”, marking 75 years of India’s independence, by providing citizen-centric police services through the Web Portal.
Key Features of the Digital Police Web Portals
The Digital Police Portals in India are designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it simple for citizens to access the information and services they need. Some of the key features of these online platforms include:
i) User-friendly interface: The websites are designed to be user-friendly, with a simple and intuitive navigation system that makes it easy for users to find the information and services they need.
ii) Real-time updates: The Digital Police Portals provide real-time updates on the status of FIRs and other services, so citizens can stay informed about the progress of their cases.
iii) Secure and reliable: The websites are secure and reliable, with robust systems in place to protect the personal information of users.
iv) Accessible from anywhere: With the Digital Police Portals, citizens can access police services and information from anywhere, at any time, as long as they have an internet connection.
Benefits of Using the Digital Police Web Portals
The Digital Police Portals in India provide citizens with a number of benefits, including:
i) Convenient access to police services: With the Digital Police Portals, citizens can access police services and information from the comfort of their own homes, without having to visit a police station in person.
ii) Time-saving: By using the Digital Police Portals, citizens can save time and effort, as they no longer have to visit a police station in person to file an FIR or access other services.
iii) Improved transparency and accountability: The Digital Police Portals provide citizens with access to real-time updates on the status of their cases, helping to increase transparency and accountability in the police force.
iv) Increased efficiency: By providing citizens with access to a wide range of police services and information online, the Digital Police Portals help to streamline processes and increase efficiency in the police force.
Conclusion
The Digital Police Portals in India, supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs, provide citizens with a valuable resource for accessing police services and information at both the national and state levels. Whether you need to report a crime, file an FIR, or access information on criminal records, the Digital Police Portals are a convenient and accessible solution that can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the police force in India. The government’s efforts to celebrate “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” by providing these citizen-centric services through the Web Portal is a testament to its commitment to modernizing and improving its services to the public.