The popular internet chat messenger, WhatsApp will now not just connect you with your friends but will also come in handy if you are in trouble and need police assistance. Delhi Police top brass has recently issued a circular to all ‘cutting edge officials’ of the force from the level of Chowki Incharge to Joint Commissioners, to download it on their smartphones and use it to connect not among themselves but also to the general public.
“WhatsApp is a free application and it does not charge any money, it has provision for sending photos/videos/long messages which are not possible with SMS texting. We all must make optimum utilisation of this latest social media,” said the circular which was issued on August 28 by Special Commissioner (law and Order) Deepak Mishra. Therefore, it is imperative that all the cutting edge officials of Delhi Police — Chowki Incharges, SHOs, Sub Division ACPs, district DCPs and Joint Commissioner of Ranges should download WhatsApp and use it not only for public interface but also for disseminating emergent crime related information at their respective jurisdictions, it further said.
All the officials have been given two weeks time to comply with the circular. The decision was taken after introduction of WhatsApp in some of the units had brought visible changes in bridging chasm between the police and the public. On August 6, the Delhi Police had launched an anti-corruption WhatsApp helpline number in a bid to nab dishonest police officials where people can send audio and video clips. “Quick response of the local police during the distress hours by the citizens is sine qua non for effective policing in the city. This in turn will enhance the image of the city police. Delhi Police has been using all the latest information technology for reaching out to the citizen,” the circular stated.