How has the nature of crime changed over the years, particularly with traditional offences now existing alongside technology-driven crimes?The dimensions of crime have increased. Traditional crimes such as thefts, burglaries and property offences continue, though to a lesser extent. At the same time, cybercrime and narcotics have become very serious challenges. We are also seeing new forms of organised crime in narcotics, cybercrime and food adulteration, with networks involved in production, manufacturing, supply and transportation.
Gen Z is growing up in a very different social and digital environment. How do you see this changing the challenges before the police?Police have to prepare for a different kind of policing. The way Gen Z communicates and behaves is different. Social media can rapidly mobilise people and an incident in one part of the country can have repercussions in Hyderabad. We need to monitor these developments and use predictive analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) to anticipate what may happen.
Does that mean social media monitoring will become a more important part of policing in the coming years?Social media is inescapable. We have to learn to live with it and avoid unnecessary controversies. Police personnel should not make foolish mistakes because anything can become viral within minutes. At the same time, our scrutiny of social media also has to be high because malicious and false campaigns are carried out through multiple accounts. Every Commissioner and Superintendent of Police has been asked to remain alert and have teams monitoring social media. It is now a compulsory part of policing.
