IOs overburdened with cases as manpower remains same
An investigation officer discussing a case at Shahbagh Police Station.Photo: STAR
Investigation of the cases filed with the 33 police stations under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is being hampered due to lack of adequate manpower as the officers available now for the job are unable to accomplish the uphill task effectively.
According to sources, the number of cases lodged with the capital's police stations have increased considerably in recent days following the launching of the Service Delivery System, but investigation capacity of police remains the same as the number of investigation officers (IOs) has not been raised. As a result the present investigation officers are overburdened with huge pending cases and are hardly able to investigate the cases properly.
In March 2007, the government launched a new initiative called Service Delivery System at the police stations under DMP where each police station would have a designated police officer for registering the complaints or cases.
The introduction of the system has made the atmosphere of police stations more inviting and people-friendly. After the system came into force, growing number of people started coming to police stations to file cases. This development, however, created problems for police officials, as their manpower was not enhanced to deal with the increased number of cases.
According to DMP records, in the past the number of cases filed each month on an average did not exceed 2,000. In February 2007, just before the lunching of the Service Delivery System, the number of cases filed stood at 1,896. After the introduction of the new system, the number of cases filed per month has reached about 2500 on an average.
The DMP records reveal that a total of 2304 cases were filed in October last while that of the cases filed in November and December were 2248 and 2148 respectively.
But, for investigating the huge number of cases, at present, DMP has 877 sub-inspectors at the 33 police stations and the detective branch. The number of sub-inspectors was 860 just before the launching of the Service Delivery System in the city. The number fluctuates almost daily due to transfer and retirement of officers.
Before the launching of the service, each sub-inspector used to handle 20 cases on an average. "Even handling 20 cases was a tremendous pressure since beside investigation, a sub-inspector has to perform many other duties such as patrolling, preparing case documents and attending courts frequently during hearing of cases," said a sub-inspector at DMP.
In the past, officials at police stations used to engage unofficially 'writers' for filling up forms and recording information of cases so that the officials can accomplish other tasks. The officials themselves used to bear the expenses for engaging the writers. But in the changed circumstances in the country, police officials cannot engage writers now for obvious reasons, sources said.
About the large number of cases piled up after the launching of the Service Delivery System, the sub-inspector said, "I am working as a high speed machine to perform my duties, but I don't know how long can I carry on.”
Another sub-inspector told Star City that he has just been transferred to DMP and he was yet to decide as to what to do with the huge number of cases in hand. "This is my first assignment in DMP and I don't know this town very well yet."
A DMP headquarter source said, 263 positions of sub inspectors out of the total 1140 in DMP remain vacant at present while the pressure can be eased if officers are appointed to these vacant posts.
On this issue, the Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said, the higher authorities have already initiated a move to provide respite for the investigators from the heap of the cases . He said, the move to assign (single digit) not more than nine cases has been taken to reduce burden on the investigation officers and ensure fair investigation.
Officers-in charge at two police stations under DMP were asked about the 'one digit assignment'. One of the OCs was found unconvinced with the policies envisaged in the 'one digit assignment' programme while another was found little aware about the programme.
About the investigation capacity of DMP, an officer-in-charge (OC) at a police station observed, “If the workforce is not increased soon, the overburdened sub-inspectors may fail to investigate their cases properly and that may lead to denial of justice.” It is the shortage of investigation officers, and not the negligence of those working presently that is responsible for the piling up of pending cases at DMP, he said. He remarked that the 'one digit assignment' programme would provide relief for sub -inspectors but would put the OCs under pressure.
AKM Doulat Akbar, OC of Ramna police station said, the 'one digit assignment' programme would reduce the burden on the sub-inspectors. When asked how he would handle the cases that are left over after assigning 9 cases each to all his inspectors, he said, under the new programme the sub -inspectors can be assigned more than nine cases but they are not allowed to keep pending more than nine cases.
On the burden on the sub -inspectors, Naim Ahmed, DMP commissioner said, “I found an investigation officer was dealing with 45 cases.”
DMP commissioner said that under the new programme an investigation officer will handle not more than nine cases and have to solve at least 6 cases monthly. Solution of the cases at such a rate would reduce the heap of cases on the sub- inspectors within next June, the commissioner hoped.
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