The International Police Expo-2014 is a first-of-its-kind for security forces, showcasing the latest technology-driven protective and tracking equipment. By Darpan Mago
Now lie detection will happen through voice recordings. There’s an equipment that can easily record any voice and obtain an analysis of the speech being truthful or misleading. With a success rate of nearly 96 per cent, a person doesn’t need to be physically around for a lie detection test. Voices can be remotely recorded and interpreted through computer to know if the conversation is genuine or deceitful. When a person is being dishonest there are nearly 70 recognised parameters for detecting the lie and out of them, 17 are major indicators for a good catch. This technology is available to only the authorised personnel of government and is being used in variety of defense related issues.
India Trade Promotion Organisation organised the International Police Expo-2014, which is India’s first-of-its-kind international exhibition for security forces. The Pragati Maidan complex was a host to all the latest equipment and modern technology available in the field of policing and national security.
Wolfgang Bopp, the owner of Bonowi International Police Equipment had set a stall at the event. While sharing his experiences as a former police trainer in Germany he said, “In Germany police usually has three simple levels of controlling a riot situation or aggressive mobs. At first we position ourselves in a powerful posture and try to scare people with our batons. In the second level, we hit on a person’s arm as a warning to ease and get back. If situation doesn’t seem to calm down and someone tries to attack with a weapon, we hit them hard with an aim to only curtail and cause minimal injury.” While serving as an officer with the German security forces Wolfgang often faced issues with available policing equipment there. He later thought of improving the policing tools and started a company that now sells them world over.
Out of nearly 50 stalls, many offered much promising innovations. Sumit Hirawat, the marketing manager at New Age industries had solutions for making crowded places like markets or malls more secure. He said, “We usually hear of the most advanced equipment available in the western countries but India is also not far behind. We manufacture unmanned aerial surveillance systems for security forces in India. Our AIRPIX BlackWidow is flying vehicle with a mounted camera and remote control. One can easily fly this object over large public gatherings, where penetration of security personnel is difficult. It has a range of about 2500 meters and runs for nearly 25 minutes. Usually aerial surveillance vehicles drain a lot of battery and have low running time but AIRPIX is specially designed to run the maximum with minimal battery usage.” There were companies who had displayed the most rugged computer systems for police vehicles like cars and bikes. Police personnel have to work in the most difficult scenarios and their vans end up becoming their second home. “Being a police officer in India is a very tough job and the systems these people use must also be as tough as them. There are instances where an officer might eat a samosa or any other food item with one hand, and then end up answering an urgent call on his computer system using the same hands. Normal systems usually fail with such hard usage but the computer systems that we manufacture for PCR (police control room) cars are sturdy. They are water resistant, shock-proof and dust-proof. We have the latest technology in place to keep them always connected with diverse broadcasting options of crime scenes,” says Adwait Singh Chaudhri, a business head at Panasonic.
Inventive rescuing solutions for fire departments, like portable fire extinguishing units on motorbikes and trolleys, hydraulic jacks and inflatable load lifting tubes were on display. Though India majorly imports its weapons but is interestingly, a good exporter of protection gears like helmets, body armours and bullet proof helmets.
Anshuman Gupta, a young student who had come to visit the event said, “I see a lot of good and innovative ways to control mobs and protests at this event. In India, police has a very complicated system to control mobs and large protests — it’s either tear gas, lathi-charge or water cannons. This event is a host of minimal injury causing equipment like rubber batons and cuff belts. In India, forces hardly understand that protestors are also human beings prone to injuries and in some cases even serious. The Indian forces must upgrade their equipment as per international standards.”