SRINAGAR, OCT 17: Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, Sujit Kumar Singh, on Saturday directed all police stations across Kashmir to adopt SMART Policing and Digital Beat Policing as integral components of their day-to-day functioning, with a focus on technology-driven investigations, enhanced accountability, stronger community engagement and faster delivery of public services.
The directions were issued during a conference on SMART Policing and Digital Beat Policing chaired by the IGP and attended by Range Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), District Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), Additional SPs, Zonal SPs, Deputy SPs and Station House Officers (SHOs) from across Kashmir Zone.
In accordance with the vision and directions of the Director General of Police, Jammu and Kashmir, the IGP called for a comprehensive transformation of police stations into modern, efficient, responsive and citizen-friendly institutions. He emphasised that the adoption of technology must translate into tangible improvements in policing standards, public grievance redressal and the accessibility of police services.
Highlighting the five fundamental principles of SMART Policing, Singh explained that the concept stands for Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, and Techno-savvy and Trained. He stressed that these principles must be reflected in the conduct of police personnel, institutional working culture and everyday interaction with the public rather than remaining confined to policy documents.
The IGP placed particular emphasis on the institutionalisation of Digital Beat Policing, directing all SHOs to ensure its effective implementation within their respective jurisdictions. He underlined the importance of strengthening the beat-level policing system through regular field visits, meaningful interaction with local residents and systematic monitoring of emerging issues affecting public safety and security.
Under the proposed approach, Beat Officers will be expected to maintain updated digital records containing relevant beat-level information, establish regular contact with residents and facilitate quicker delivery of police services through technology. The system is also intended to strengthen accountability by enabling SHOs and supervisory officers to monitor the performance and field activities of Beat Officers.
Emphasising the importance of inclusive public outreach, the IGP directed that policing services must reach every locality and every section of society. He said effective beat policing should promote community participation, improve the flow of information between citizens and police, and enable officers to identify local concerns at an early stage.
Singh observed that the police station remains the primary point of contact between the police and the public and, therefore, must function as an accessible, responsive and technology-enabled institution. He stressed that modern policing requires a combination of professional competence, technological innovation, accountability and sensitivity towards citizens’ concerns.
Supervisory officers were directed to personally oversee the implementation of SMART Policing and Digital Beat Policing and ensure that the prescribed measures produce visible results on the ground. All District Police Heads were instructed to ensure effective implementation across their respective jurisdictions.
“Our objective is to make every Police Station in Kashmir Zone SMART and citizen-centric, where technology strengthens accountability and police services reach every citizen with dignity,” the IGP said.
The initiative aims to strengthen the operational efficiency of police stations, improve police-public relations and establish a more transparent, responsive and technology-driven policing framework across Kashmir Zone. By placing greater emphasis on digital records, field-level engagement and supervisory oversight, the approach seeks to bring policing closer to communities while improving the delivery of essential services.
