It’s hard to miss the latest addition to Lahore’s ever-growing police force. With their spanking new uniforms, top of the line motorbikes and Bluetooth mic-equipped helmets, officers from the Dolphin Force (DF) can easily be spotted as they patrol Lahore’s streets with an aim to curb crime.
“When they’re on the street, the police receive fewer calls,” boasts DIG Operations Haider Ashraf, adding that the crime rate has already decreased in Model Town and Sadar, especially during the force’s patrolling hours.
The stats partially back up his claim that street crime has fallen since the inception of the force. But beyond its shiny exterior and the early reports of success, is this new branch of Lahore’s hydra-headed police force really worth the nearly one billion rupees of investment?
And is its fate going to be any different from the existing forces in the city that are beleaguered by mismanagement and poor resources?