The Kozhikode city police have launched ‘Quest,’ a project to enhance smart administration and case investigation through advanced training modules, digital tools, and technologies. Trained officers from 21 police stations will steer its implementation and coordinate the local training programme for colleagues.
The scheme aims to ensure the smart functioning of police stations by enhancing officers’ responsiveness to public grievances and guaranteeing accuracy and speed in crime investigations. Kerala Police Association members are partners in its implementation.
Officers overseeing the project under District Police Chief T. Narayanan said expert resource persons from specialised crime investigation wings and the judiciary had been roped in to support the initiative. They added that the first phase included a four-day training programme on smart public interactions, administration, and investigation.
So far, 45 police officers have completed their training under a panel of expert resource persons. They will serve as master trainers in the first phase, guiding colleagues in smart administration and the effective use of modern technologies to advance investigations in line with the evolving IT sector.
“We now use various IT tools, including special mobile applications and websites, for crime investigations, many of which are handled by the cyber cell. A key aim of Quest is to familiarise all officers with existing digital tools and their optimal use for smarter administration and investigation,” said C.T. Sunilkumar, district secretary of the Kerala Police Association and a project coordinator. He added that the training modules included lessons on improving interpersonal skills, effective interaction with complainants, and proactive complaint redressal mechanisms.
To equip officers with digital technologies and IT applications for crime investigation, a special computer lab is being considered at the district headquarters. The lab, with modern training facilities, is expected to be ready after the ongoing officer training is completed within a year.
Another major goal of Quest is to create a better understanding among police officers of new provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and laws on narcotics, cybercrime, and sexual assault. To achieve this, project coordinators have enlisted the support of retired senior police officers and judges.
