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Published 25 Oct, 2022 09:05pm

Karachi traffic police to wear bodycam but will it work?

Every movement made by policemen on duty will now be recorded by body cameras, which will be strapped to their shoulders. The cameras will relay live footage straight into the police control room.

“This step has been to take to decrease police harassment and complaints,” said DIG Pervez Ahmed Chandio. “We want to make sure that police’s interaction with citizens is digitalized so there’s proof of everything.”

To start off with, 800 body cameras have been ordered for the traffic officers who issue challans or tickets while on patrol in Karachi.

The program will be expanded across Sindh, right up to Kashmore.

No officer will be able to turn off the camera or delete the recorded videos and audio while on duty.

Every camera has an emergency button to alert the control room so that backup help can be dispatched.

“The body cameras mean police officers can no longer be people falsely accused of mistreatment,” a police officer said.

“The body cams can make police work somewhat transparent if the GPS location is also being recorded.” a senior retired officer said, “And if it’s available to the public so that everyone can check their own video.”

“I think the traffic police should be abolished and the personnel should be given to the Karachi police. They should impose online fines with thorough camera monitoring,” he said.

“This will control the bribery and the humiliation of the public by traffic police.”

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