Speaking at an event of the Indian Police Foundation (IPF) in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that technology had the potential to take policing to the next level if used properly. In his address at the Maharashtra Police Headquarters, he underscored the importance of the police force to update its organisational setup from time to time to remain flexible.
"Technology is like a horse. It's the rider who decides the destination," said Fadnavis, who also holds the home affairs portfolio. "If we use technology in the right way, without fear, I believe we can take policing to the next stage."
He drew a parallel to the introduction of computers, which initially raised concerns about job losses, yet ultimately led to a boom in the IT sector. "Now, we are on the verge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and we have a lot of questions," he said. "But I feel any technology is like a horse. If the rider sits properly and takes the horse in the right direction, then the horse also runs fast."
Fadnavis noted that the nature of crime is changing, with cybercrime and white-collar crime now posing a greater challenge than street crime. He mentioned that the Maharashtra Police force had updated its organisational structure in 2023 for the first time in 53 years to reflect these changes.
The Chief Minister highlighted the force's progressive cybersecurity lab, which he claimed was the most advanced in the country. He shared that four countries had approached Maharashtra to set up similar centres, with one having already provided an offer letter. While embracing the new technology, we should not leave the old system behind as it has its own importance, Fadnavis noted.
"No financial superpower in the world can stand without the support of law and order and if it does so, it cannot be sustainable. We have seen 'mafia raj' helped create some prosperous societies, but those were never sustainable and declined rapidly," he said.
The event was also attended by Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.
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