Police officers should re-orient their approach towards cyber crimes: President

New Delhi, Nov 10: Probationers of the Indian Police Service 78 RR (2025 batch) called on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan Tuesday.
Addressing the probationers, the President said that for the citizens, police officers and constables are symbols of governance. People perceive the governance to be good when the police system functions well. People feel immensely supported when a police officer listens to their grievances with sensitivity and attentiveness. She urged the IPS officers to prioritise alleviating the fears of socially or economically weaker individuals who generally lack access to senior officials, and addressing their grievances.
The President stated that some of the employees in the system may be more proficient in the use of technology than the senior officers. She advised the officer trainees to not hesitate to learn even from the most junior members of their team. She urged them to encourage public participation and teamwork in their working style. She said that by prioritising the welfare of their team members, they will enhance their capabilities and enthusiasm.
The President stated that the police officers would derive a high level of authority from the laws and rules related to policing. However, they will earn real respect from the people, based on their performance and value system. She said that they should have a sense of commitment to serving citizens rather than a sense of superiority over them.
The President said that spreading misinformation to trigger fear among the people is emerging as a serious issue. Impressionable minds, especially the youth, can be swayed by orchestrated disinformation. This kind of orchestrated mischief can happen at local, regional, or even national levels. Smart policing can prevent such situations from getting too challenging and big.
The President said that cyber-crimes are getting widespread and more serious. The police have to sensitise society more extensively about the gravity of cybercrimes. She emphasised that the police officers should reorient their own approach towards such crimes. Deep-fake content poses new threats to people. She highlighted the need for police officers to always stay ahead of the criminals who use state-of-the-art technologies.