PTI

Bangalore, Jun 6: President A P J Abdul Kalam on Tuesday suggested that police departments compile a nationwide database of criminals which could be available online in all police stations and its data be updated continuously.

Inaugurating the 37th All India Police Science Congress, Kalam underlined the need to establish a police e-governance grid through high bandwidth network and generating an action plan for progressive induction of ICT in police forces.

The Police Science Congress should consider promotion of research in the areas of police intelligence, police administration, police management and networking, he said.

Expressing concern over the existing low police to people ratio at 1:938 in the country, the President said it should reach at least 1:500 within the next three to five years to face the challenges of maintenance of law and order ahead.

"To attract and retain talented youth in the police force right from constable to officers, what we need is to design attractive service conditions with suitable pay packages and perks, career planning and advancement, housing, leave, children's education, healthcare facilities and self-upgradation schemes," he advocated.

The pay package must be attractive enough to see that police personnel at all levels do not succumb to extraneous considerations at any cost, Kalam said and exhorted the police to be people friendly, corruption free, and responsible.