By Saif Al-Gburi and Mukhabbat Davranova:
In comparison to what Hyderabad was earlier, today’s is different. Several years ago, Hyderabad was safe. The city is safe today also, but with the utilization of upgraded and innovative safety system, Hyderabad has progressed in decreasing the number of crimes.
‘Security’ is the safety of the people, state or organization against criminal activities such as terrorism, theft or espionage. Year after year, the term ‘security’ is facing various challenges owing to the modifications in the world that we are living in. Now it refers to establishing modern security systems and new rules to protect the society. Here, we explore the initiatives in the up and coming metro city – Hyderabad.
City Police is the principle responsible organ to implement the security and safety of the citizens. With an eye to know more of today’s operations and work of Hyderabad City Police (HCP), we went to the Hyderabad Police Comissionerate. After several persistent attempts, we finally got an appointment with one of the inspectors in charge of the CCTV camera team in the IT department – Bharath Reddy. He said he will share information as much as he is allowed and here is an interview with him.
Saif Al-Gburi (SG) and Mukhabbat Davranova (MD): What is the role of the IT department in providing security?
Bharath Reddy (BR): In providing security and safety, nowadays we require technology to implement the initiatives so as to reach the public faster and in a timely manner. And when it comes to technology, it comes to social media. We use interfaces such as public additions regarding social news, viral news spreading, giving clarity to the operations we do, etc. There is a separate wing called “Social Media Unit” in the IT cell of Hyderabad Police, as part of which we have Facebook and Twitter accounts. Along with that, “Hawk eye” app is available in both: Android and IPhone or the HCP “What’s up” account which is very useful for women who are unable to or don’t want to come to the police station. They can raise complains from their doorsteps and we will send our representative – Police Constable – to their premises.
SG and MD: What kind of fresh initiatives have the Hyderabad Police taken for security?
BR: The CCTV camera project is very important in detecting crimes. The man can lie, but facts cannot. Whatever appears, we get through this CCTV footage, it’s our evidence. Through these technologies we get better and accurate proof to produce to court.
SG and MD: When did Hyderabad start using CCTV cameras and what type of cameras are you using now in public places?
BR: From 2014 onwards, we have been installing CCTV cameras. We are using Internet Protocol Cameras that can connect the camera wherever you want. If you want to connect all the cameras, it won’t come from a remote place. It is very difficult to get these records to another place.
For better clarity in the recording process, we use IP based cameras, which we can connect where we want within Internet and Intronet. Each camera has its own specific IP address gotten from ISPs to the Internet. Within this IP address you can get access to any video streaming on the Internet. And another thing is that the hard disk we require to store 30 days as per Act we have: Telangana State Public Safety Measures Enforcement Act-2013. In the Act they mention clearly that what are the specification of cameras we have to use, how many days back up we have to maintain for the camera.
SG and MD: How effective are CCTV cameras in detecting traffic violations, vandalism, and capturing criminals?
BR: Before installing these cameras, four years ago, traffic rules and regulations were implemented by being in the field, catching trespassers on the the spot and giving them punishment according to their violation. Along with these CCTV cameras, that make our work much more easier, we carry out traffic loss and impose chalans. Chalan means fine, we use this word widely in the city. If any person passes the red signal, CCTV camera captures images automatically and immediately we put chalans. We have two wings here. It is surveillance. We do surveillance from a crime point of view to prevent crimes. Above this floor, we have traffic wing, they do 24/7 surveillance exclusively for traffic violence, to prevent traffic germs. Specifically for criminals, we have Crime Record Bureau in which there is another unit – Facial Recognition Unit. This is a software maintaining a database of offenders, details and photos of accused people and past offenders. All streaming from CCTV cameras is given to Facial Recognition Unit. Software recognizes the faces and compares with database. If it is the same person moving in front of the camera, it will give pop up, alert accountable person.
SG and MD: You mention about “Hawk eye” What type of app is this?
BR: “Hawk eye” is not a single app; it is an app having different bundle of apps. Citizen police – where any person can act as a police. If a person notices any violence, even in tribal areas; he can send images to us. Based upon those images, we make chalans. And the SOS button is exceptionally useful for women citizens when they have to give all their relatives details. Whenever they are in a tough situation, by pressing this button they can send an alert to message to their relatives and locate police offices, after which they will be approached by GPS. The “Woman Travel Made Safe” app is also beneficial for women when they usually travel at night. Through database Command Control monitor their trip until they reach to their location safely. And we have “Community Policing”. Anyone can register their details for voluntary services for community policing. Moreover, there is contact information for all police stations in that app. Like this, different come together to make for the “Hawk eye” project. This is a public interface, an open app, every citizen of Telangana can use it.
SG and MD: Of course, cameras are important nowadays in determining crimes, traffic violations, but what if the footage or video is misused? What do you do to prevent this? It is important who is sitting at the other side of the camera: who is responsible, isn’t it?
BR: No, how can it be. We have access to control at every stage, we don’t get the feeds, we can see because there is av password for that to get footage. Moreover, there are small cameras in those rooms also. We are monitoring all these areas from another camera.
They don’t have a chance to break the rules. Actually, you see that this is the Command Control of the city. No other person has access to come here unless and until we have permission from superior offices, with that then we will allow! From this department we can control all of Hyderabad’s CCTV cameras, can see any area’s footage, however we don’t store the data here. We just do surveillance. The details will be recorded in local police stations and command control departments itself. Whenever we want footage for evidence, we will bring it from the local police stations.
SG and MD: CCTV Surveillance violates citizen’s rights to privacy and anonymity within the public sphere by jeopardizing both their liberty and dignity. What do you think about it?
BR: No, we are not breaching their freedom and liberty. We fix cameras regularly not in all locations, only in critical locations where public movement is more, where there is a chance of crime happening or in the places crime has happened previously. For the purpose of preventing the crime these actions are taken. We are not entering in their homes, right? If you are real general person, you don’t get any difficulty with that. You can do your job and go wherever you want.
SG and MD: It’s true. But sometimes when I walk in the street, I see all these rules, police stations, apps, CCTV cameras all these of course for helping people, but…. I feel like Hyderabad becomes too much of a security city. This maybe makes people feel different. What do you think?
BR: There is no too much here. We are doing our job, the city is safe. The part of the job of policing is detecting and preventing the crime. To prevent the crime we have to be alert 24/7. If you are not alert, the crime will happen. With the intention of Prime DJP Sir Mahinder, Head Of The Commissionerate Of Police for Hyderabad city to use CCTV cameras as a weapon to prevent the crime, after which initiated several concepts to install them. Ever since, Hyderabad has become more safe and secure.
SG and MD: Do you think police personnel should be out in the streets trying to prevent and control crime? Are CCTV cameras are just there to give the public a false feeling of safety?
BR: It is not like that. Police is always with the public. We are always doing surveillance and monitoring. But we have police personnel on the field also 24/7. There is 8 to 8 hours patrolling and beading that happens continuously. Field officers are always available. When anything happens on the scenes of surveillance, they will alert the field officers who take the action at the right time. Very few officers, only 4-5% are in monthly surveillance level. Remaining 90% are always with the public. We have different branches. For example, SP-special branch. They are in civil inform. We are not far from public.
SG and MD: Do you have access to CCTV camera footage in private buildings?
BR: No, we don’t have access to CCTV camera footage in private buildings. They have to maintain their own footage at their offices also with the maintenance of 30 days back up. In case any building camera is located on the roadside or a particular location is a crime VIP area, at that moment we can ask the private locality guys for access.
SG and MD: What is the size of spending on installation and maintenance of CCTVs?
BR: From the money point of view, there is no limitation. We are getting funds from different sources. There is a Constitution Development program, MPs – from the representatives of people – these are governmental funds. As a part of the Corporate Social Responsibility Act of Central Government, we are getting funds from Corporate Companies also. For instance, ORBI Corporate, NMBC, some senior enterprises, Synchronic Finance, and etc. There are a lot of different companies that come forward and give finances for installing these cameras.
SG and MD: How do you rate Hyderabad City Police in terms of security, law enforcement, and safety in comparison with past several decades? How much has is changed?
BR: Even you may have noticed this. Yeah, you have been here for the past 2 years, no. You know how safe this city is when compared to other cities. Generally, I can say that public movement has been increasing year by year. Where the public movement is more, there is a lot of chance for crime. You can say that before two years or maybe four or five years ago the city was safe, but now also it is safe. But if you compare Hyderabad from two years ago and The Hyderabad of today, public movement is increasing. India as a whole is seeing an increase in crime rates, but in Hyderabad, the statistics are showing reduced crime rates, this is the progress we have made. For the last 3 years, crime rate has been decreasing every year in Hyderabad.
SG and MD: What steps have you taken to improve the relationship of the Hyderabad City Police with people?
BR: All initiatives I have mentioned above are for developing the public’s relationship with police. Hyderabadis are friendly people and the police here are people friendly. Our first priority is always people. According to the citizens’ priorities and requirements, we will provide necessary security and take important actions. For example, the Ganesh Nimarjanam (immersion) is a big procession that happens in the city. We are always there. Irrespective of what occasion, we will be with the public and do our job. Policing is difficult without cooperation. Without the cooperation of the citizens, we can’t implement policy. It is related.
SG and MD: The last question. Do you have any message to the citizens of Hyderabad?
BR: We Hyderabad Police are citizen friendly police.
As can be seen, Hyderabadi people are safe and sound, HCP is there behind them, working 24/7 bases ready to protect their lives from any danger.