LAHORE: The Punjab police have submitted the PC-I of Dolphin Force, a state-of-the-art patrol squad modelled after Istanbul’s Dolphin police, to the provincial Planning and Development (P&D) department with an estimated budget of Rs393.58m for technical and critical review of the project- the first-ever expensive police patrol model for the provincial capital.

However, the cost may increase because the Turkish police experts want purchase of 500CC bikes instead of 250CC proposed by the provincial government.

Officials say as the project has been launched on the directions of the chief minister, the P&D will quickly process it to the finance ministry for release of funds.

The trainers, comprising 25 police officers led by a superintendent of police (SP), are leaving for Turkey on March 1 to get two-month training. On their return, they will train 1,200 constables and upper-subordinates selected for the force.

According to the roadmap of the project, being supervised by Turkish police officers, the procurement of equipment is about to complete, institutional arrangements are in process and the project’s implementation will start from March 1 while its inauguration is expected on June 1.

The Dolphin Concept Policing, using motorcycles, was introduced in 1993 in Istanbul and it is fast, effective and cost-efficient as compared to foot and car patrols besides it can access narrow streets and move in heavy traffic.

The objectives of the force in Lahore are to reduce crime, improve police image, eliminate Thana culture, improve citizen satisfaction and reduce fear of crime.

All patrol units will be observed by the Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking, field commanders’ posting will be based on crime and crowd concentration and activities of patrol units will be controlled on a daily basis. The patrol units will be deployed on the basis of crime hotspots and daily and seasonal population movements.

A command centre will be headed by the SP while areas will be bifurcated among Saggian Bridge, Iqbal Town, Harbanspura, Chuhng, Civil Lines and Model Town with 50 motorcycles each.

As many as 1,200 policemen and 25 trainers have been selected from existing police force by a five-member selection committee, comprising two Turkish police officers. The trainers consist of UN volunteers and foreign qualified officers with policing/instructional experience.

The force will comprise of total 1,800 constables, 60 ASIs, 15 SIs, four DSPs and an SP who will work in three shifts with 300 motorcycles. The equipment being raised are 300 motorcycles, 10 mini buses for field support, 600 helmets, 600 camera-body cams, 200 GPS locators and 300 wireless radios. A special uniform will be designed for dolphin patrol officials. Two cops who will patrol roads on a bike will be equipped with helmets with wireless radio, police siren and lights, small arm, handcuffs, GPS tracking device, camera and special uniform.

As per citizen-oriented policing plan, one unit will respond in emergency to at least 30 citizens a day and as many as 100 units will respond to 3,000 people daily with annual average of one million people.

Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Lahore Dr Haider Ashraf says 1,200 cops have been selected and another 600 will be chosen at the later stage. He says Lahore police intends to launch the modernised patrol units as of June 1 with an approach to show round-the-clock presence on roads, prevent everyday crime, act as first-responders, gather intelligence and extend emergency help to citizens.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play