CAD100 (Computer Aided Dispatch)

CAD100: Gateway for Accessing Police Services

The biggest problem with our police system is that a citizen often finds it difficult to even enter the criminal justice system. Without adequate transparency and accountability non-registration of FIR is a widely prevalent problem. 

CAD100 aims to end this by making the emergency helpline number 100 the main gateway for accessing police services. Now the citizen would not have to trudge to the police station, a call to 100 will bring the police where it is required. This is the paradigm shift being pursued and CAD is a central enabling tool.

UP Police Computer Aided Dispatch: Schematic Diagram

Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD) is a sophisticated integration of technologies that makes life very easy for the police.

The only equipment that the dispatcher once had was a radio and a telephone. Life was easy for him until he also got a screen that showed locations of the police vehicles, then another few screens and a joystick controller for CCTV, then a bunch of hotlines, and alarm system triggers and then another radio and another telephone line. With so many devices around him the poor guy could hardly use them up to their potential.

The solution. Remove all the clutter. Create an IP cloud. Plug in all the inputs into this cloud. Telephone, radio, AVLS, CCTV, hotlines, alarms, email, sms, everything. And then give access to all the information to the user from one single PC. One keyboard, one mouse but three screens. Now the dispatcher can transmit over radio, use the phone, send and receive sms, emails… everything from his terminal. Easy, isn’t it. No it is easier than that, as the software is so user friendly and intelligent that it shows the location where help is required. On the same screen he sees the nearest police vehicle and dispatches it. Just a few clicks and the message is delivered on the Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) of the patrol vehicle. Before we look at the MDT let us first see what else the CAD does for the dispatcher. If there is a CCTV in the vicinity it can be seen on the map. No need to remember camera numbers and a keep another keyboard. Banks and businesses can register with CAD100 and then even a blank call from them will be treated as an alarm trigger. Dispatch decisions depend on previous caller history and here the system itself offers those details.

Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) Hand Held

The MDT is a ruggedized handheld computer with a phone, GPS, camera and, a mike. This little computer opens up vast opportunities for the police to work as a harmonized team. When the Call For Service (CFS) message reaches the officer’s MDT he proceeds to the required location. The dispatcher can see his location and status. The patrol officer files the Action Taken Report in text along with photo, video or audio. Some constables who are slow in using the keyboard, record an audio report and upload it.

The SHOs, COs and higher officers monitor the CFS and the response of the patrol system. The CO ensures the quality control by reviewing each CFS and closing it. If he is not satisfied, he issues instructions and closes it only when 100 has done its job well.

CAD100 aims to satisfy each caller by generating ‘appropriate legal action’. It sends a SMS of acknowledgement. The caller sees the action taken status through a website and can make comments too. He can also call 100 to verbally enquire about the progress. With telephone and radio records, GPS logs, CCTV recordings there is a high level of transparency and accountability coming into the system.

CAD100 is not merely a system to modernize the control room, it is a system for running the entire range of day-to-day police operations. The SHOs prepare patrol charts using their computers or smart phones. The patrol officer can see his patrol chart on his MDT. This technological advancement allows the police to have ever varying patrol charts. The intelligence built into the system advices the SHO on how patrol units should be tactically deployed. Checking schemes, crime response schemes are pre-configured and it takes a second to command all resources to take tactical positions.

HotSpot Analysis

The beat tasks of surveillance, execution of court processes, care of senior citizens are now allotted and monitored in a simple but efficient way.

The CAD is also accessible through the VPN of CCTNS. This way each police station becomes an extension of the control room and can monitor the location of its patrol vehicles and what they are doing.

More and more citizens now prefer to call 100 over visiting a police station. Citizens alert the police about crime, organized crime and, suspicious activities.  The patrol officers work hard to reduce their response times. Their output has grown as now they work in close synch with each other.

Swiftly and certainly, the paradigm shift is taking place and CAD100 is enabling it.