Delhi Police boost technology and extends e-FIR for burgalry, theft cases with designing a unique investigation process
New Delhi, January 27
In adherence to its upscale technology that boosts the work of Delhi, Police, the police in the national capital have introduced an e-FIR application system to report burglary and thefts from this Republic Day.
The citizens already have the facility to report the crimes of all nature online on the CCTNS (crime and criminal tracking network and systems) portal. However, in order to make the task simpler and faster for the citizens, the Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana passed a fresh order for implementation of e-FIR for faster redressal in burglary and theft cases.
In an order on January 25, CP Asthana stated, “Series of web applications have been developed by Delhi Police for total transformation of the system to enable the complainants to register to FIR and receive a copy of the same instantly, without going to a police station. An e-FIR application for registration of theft cases is being activated for registration of e-FIR in the crime categories of house theft and burglary from January 26, 2022. This activation will make the lives of citizens simpler, through hassle-free registration, facilitate speedy investigation and systematic documentation.”
The order subject mentioned addendum to standing order no 443/2016, activation of e-FIR module for house theft and burglary.
First-time users of the app will have to provide an email ID and mobile number for registration. Users will receive a one-time password (OTP) on mobile and web via SMS and email.
The order also highlights the objectives of the process and it further stated, “Immediate online lodging of the FIR for the property stolen in Delhi through web facilitates investigation officers to complete investigation steps and documentation and timely disposal of cases to reduce pendency at police stations and courts.”
At present, there is a system of lodging e-FIR in case of theft of vehicles, simple theft and non-cognizable report online which was started in 2015.
The work on the online FIR application has been going on for the past several months and technical and legal aspects have been discussed with the concerned departments.
Elaborating more on the implementation of the e-FIR the officials stated that the application will apply a section of law for the registration of FIR with the combination of choices in dropdown menu for the place of incident, type of incident, time of incident, number of suspects etc.
The complainants can file their complaints anywhere without going to the police station. FIR will be lodged at e-Police Station, having jurisdiction over National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi established under Crime Branch. The digitally signed FIR will be instantly dispatched to the email of the complainant, area SHO, senior police officers and designated court.
In addition to that, it will have the facility of guiding Investigating Officers to complete investigation and documentation. There is also a Management Information System for analysis and taking preventive measures.
The officials said that the Investigating Officer will be provided with a User ID with OTP to log in to a module carrying folder(s) of FIR(s). Assigned IO will also get a system generated OTP for accessing each FIR folder, every time, after which he will take the following action: Contact the complainant within 24 hours, obtain signatures on a printout copy of FIR. As per his duties, the IO will visit the crime scene and call DMCT/forensic help if needed. He will also have to inform SHO and other senior officers about the crime.
The IO will carry out the enquiry/investigation, prepare a site plan, record statements of complainants, witnesses etc and collect available evidence. Efforts to trace the stolen property, identify the culprit will also be made by IO. He will have to fill in the information in an application for the generation of case diaries and update the complainant with progress in the case from time to time.
CP Asthana, while implementing this system, has also ensured that the result is seen on the ground.
He has also laid down instructions to the Delhi Police senior officers and field officials to ensure the process runs smoothly.
All the district DCPs have been asked to ensure that after the registration of the complainant, the police meets with them, records statements and carries out all procedures carefully to give assurance to the complainants that the case is being investigated as promptly as when registered physically at the police stations.
Asthana also explained the duties of investigation officers of the concerned area police station and directed all the investigation officers (IO) to contact the complainant within 24 hours, conduct a proper investigation, inform senior officers, and update the complainant with the progress of the cases from time to time.
Special Commissioner Devesh Chandar Shrivastav stated that the this activation is a milestone in the series of web applications developed by Delhi Police to help complainants register FIR and receive a copy of the same instantly without going to the police station. This will help in hassle-free registration, systematic documentation and speedy investigation, thus making lives of citizens simpler.
