Kerala: Cyber crime wing on anvil
The state police at present has only one cyber police station, located in Thiruvananthapuram, and attached to the crime branch.
Thiruvananthapuram: As part of strengthening the cyber crime investigation, the state police is planning to set up a separate cyber crime wing on the lines of the crime branch.
State police chief Loknath Behera said that setting up of the three new cyber police stations recently sanctioned by the government was progressing with priority. In due course cyber police stations would have to be set up in all districts. A separate cyber crime division under an ADGP rank officer would be also required to streamline the functioning of the cyber police station more effectively.
The state police at present has only one cyber police station, located in Thiruvananthapuram, and attached to the crime branch. Once the three new stations are set up, at Kochi, Kozhikode and Thrissur, each police station would be given jurisdiction of the range concerned.
"We are expecting the government notification regarding the jurisdiction within a month. Work on setting up the police stations is also progressing. Technically qualified personnel among the police were already identified for being posted at the cyber police station," said Mr. Behera.
Sources in the police said that though it took several years for the first cyber police station to materialise even after it was announced by the government, at present the setting up of the three new stations is being carried out with priority.
As part of strengthening the cyber wing, the state police recently decided to set up cyber cell in all the 472 police stations to assist local police in probing cases involving cyber aspects.
Police Technology Centre to be set up
The state police is planning to bring all technology related wings of the police under one roof. A Police Technology Centre would be set up in the state capital for the purpose and the present ADGP (State Crime Records Bureau) post would be rechristened as ADGP (Technical service)
Technical wings of the police like communication, Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems and ICT wings would be brought under the Police Technology Centre.
State police chief Loknath Behera said that bringing all technical wings of the police under one roof would ensure effective streamlining of the wings. A research and development wing and a technology library would be also set up at the Technology Centre.
Though all these wings are now under ADGP (SCRB), they are scattered.