CM’s stress on visible people-friendly policing approach leveraging advanced technology to improve efficiency

Chief Minister called for reorientation of the police workforce to meet emerging challenges

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu observed that social media misuse by certain elements increased to create unrest in society. He said the government should examine the need to restructure the police system in line with changing times and crimes. He called for a shift from an “invisible police” approach to “visible policing,” while leveraging advanced technology to improve efficiency.

Participating in AP Police Retreat 2026 – Future Ready AP Police Conference here today the Chief Minister said police should be more people friendly. He said that a similar Future Policing workshop had been conducted in 2001 and noted that the nature of crime has changed significantly over the years.

Referring to the success of Operation Sindoor, the Chief Minister said technology had enabled authorities to execute the operation effectively with minimal manpower, demonstrating the transformative potential of modern policing.He emphasized that police must not only formulate effective strategies to maintain law and order but also deliver measurable results. Citing the recent recovery of the abducted Lord Hanuman idol from the Tirumala footpath, the Chief Minister said technology enabled police to trace the idol in a very short time. Although the accused was believed to be mentally unstable, he noted that failure to act promptly in such incidents could lead to public misconceptions and damage the government’s credibility.He also expressed concern that certain political groups resort to criminal acts to embarrass the government. Referring to the Pastor Praveen incident, he said it took several days to counter the misinformation that had spread around the case.

The Chief Minister noted that while the state had made significant progress in controlling ganja cultivation and trafficking, more needs to be done. He said drug abuse is destroying families and contributing to violent crimes, underscoring the need for greater public awareness about the dangers of narcotics.He directed officials to further strengthen the Dog Squad and Forensic Science departments. He said the government had effectively controlled rowdyism and factional violence and recalled personally visiting sensitive locations on several occasions to boost the morale of both police personnel and the public.

Highlighting the need for institutional reforms, the Chief Minister called for reorientation of the police workforce to meet emerging challenges. He said digital literacy has become an essential skill for every police officer and stressed the need to adopt Artificial Intelligence in policing. He proposed introducing certification courses for police personnel and providing specialised training to enhance their capabilities in handling cybercrime, social media-related offences, crimes against women, narcotics and improving conviction rates.

The Chief Minister also suggested examining the proposal to deploy trainees undergoing instruction in the APSP on deputation to district police units for practical exposure.He encouraged senior police officers to regularly interact with professors, subject experts and industry specialists to stay updated on emerging technologies and best practices. He emphasized that while preventing crime remains the primary objective, police should also focus on effectively monitoring and reforming habitual offenders.The Chief Minister further said that the experience and capabilities of Head Constables and Assistant Sub-Inspectors should be utilized more effectively to strengthen policing across the state.

During the three day conference senior IPS officers deliberated on the challenges of modern policing and strategies to build a technology-driven, citizen-centric police force.The conference brought together IPS officers from across the state to discuss key issues including the use of technology in policing, prevention of crimes against women, combating cybercrime and strengthening law enforcement through innovation. Senior officers also presented their recommendations and future policing strategies to the Chief Minister.