Innovative policing tools transform crime detection & prevention in Telangana

Hyderabad: The Telangana Police’s Crime Investigation (CI) Cell, under the leadership of V V Srinivas Rao, ADGP (Technical Services), and R Bhaskaran, SP (CI Cell), is set to take policing to the next level by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into its groundbreaking tools. With the aim of enhancing predictive policing and enabling data-driven decision-making, this move will revolutionise crime detection, improve investigations, and enable proactive interventions across the state.

The CI Cell has already developed a suite of innovative technologies, including CYCAPS, TALAASH, and DARPAN, which are transforming cybercrime investigation, criminal identification, and law enforcement practices. These tools are already proving invaluable in improving crime detection, offender identification, and network mapping, with plans for further advancements to boost their effectiveness in the fight against crime.

CYCAPS: Revolutionising Cybercrime Investigation

Launched in 2021, the Cyber Crime Analysis & Profiling System (CYCAPS) is an advanced tool designed to combat the escalating challenges of cybercrime. Recognising the increasing complexity of online offenses, CYCAPS integrates data from various sources, including national crime records, financial databases, mobile data, and call detail records (CDRs), to provide investigators with a robust analytical platform. Officers can now track criminal activities across cyberspace, pinpoint suspect networks, and accurately identify habitual offenders.

One of the key features of CYCAPS is its ability to map crime hotspots by analysing criminal location data, which helps in strategically planning law enforcement interventions. The system’s powerful search function, which allows officers to query data based on mobile numbers, IMEI numbers, financial records, and even keywords within FIR content, has already been instrumental in cracking numerous cases. CYCAPS has identified over 49,000 criminal links across 352 cases and pinpointed cybercrime hotspots in six states. As a result, these findings have been forwarded to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (14C) for further action, marking a significant contribution to national cybersecurity efforts.

TALAASH: A Unified Platform for Crime and Criminal Data

Developed in 2018, TALAASH is a comprehensive crime and criminal search tool that integrates data from various law enforcement databases, including the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS), the Central Crime Record Bureau (CCRB), and the Jail Records Management System (JRMS), among others. This all-in-one platform enables officers to track habitual offenders, uncover links between crimes, and investigate trends based on the modus operandi (MO) of criminals.

TALAASH’s advanced search capabilities, which allow filtering by various parameters such as name, age, occupation, and geographic location, have already facilitated over 80,000 searches. By consolidating crime data into a single, searchable interface, TALAASH has become an invaluable tool for investigators. Moving forward, the CI Cell plans to enhance TALAASH by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), which will allow for more predictive analysis and refined searches, ultimately improving crime-solving efficiency.

DARPAN: Empowering Police with Real-Time Facial Recognition

The Telangana Police launched DARPAN in 2017, a face recognition tool that is transforming the identification process for suspects and missing persons. By utilising advanced facial recognition technology, DARPAN enables officers to match photographs of suspects or missing individuals with a centralized database containing detailed identity records, including those from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), police stations, and rescue homes.

DARPAN has proven particularly effective in field operations, providing real-time identification of suspects during active investigations. The tool can process up to one million records per second, offering police a powerful capability to identify criminals quickly and accurately. Since its launch, DARPAN has successfully identified 454 individuals, including 321 accused criminals and 38 missing children, significantly aiding law enforcement efforts to solve cases and reunite families with lost children.

The advancements will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of investigations and help anticipate crime patterns, enabling proactive interventions.