Indian policemen are not exactly known for their approachability. Most Indians would be reluctant to walk into a police station unless they absolutely have to, and those who have entered one do not always recount cheerful tales. Painfully aware of this unfriendly image, police departments in some Indian cities are giving the citizenry an alternative route to approach them: through smartphone apps.
The police forces in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Gurgaon and Kochi have created security apps with varying functions. Some give the user a way to connect with the local cop, while others just serve the purpose of sending emergency alerts or as emergency number database. Some apps work well, while others predictably do not. Of them all, Hyderabad police’s app stands out by far.
There are still cities that have not caught up with the trend, including Bangalore and Chennai. Here is a look at some of those who have:
Hyderabad Police: Hawk Eye
Downloads: 1,000+
User rating: 4.6 stars out of five
Key features: Reporting violations, tracking complaints, women safety features
Though not an early starter, the Hyderabad police has put together an app that other forces can learn from. Called Hawk Eye and launched on December 31 last year, it has a bundle of features, including one for women’s safety. The app allows users to track complaints, report violations, and register tenants or security personnel. In it can be found a list of emergency contacts.
Since its recent launch, the app has been downloaded close to 1,000 times and the 348 reviews of it together provide a rating of 4.6 stars out of five. While the reviews are mostly positive, some users have pointed out bugs: a missing help menu, absence of location reporting.
Delhi Police: Himmat
Downloads: 10,000+
User rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
Key features: Emergency alarm, transmits audio-video directly to the police
A day after the launch of Hawk Eye, Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh distributed pepper spray to women and launched Delhi police’s safety application called Himmat, which can be used to send emergency messages to the police control room.
At the press of a button, “all the details of the victim, including her location, will be there in an SMS, which will also be transmitted simultaneously by the police control room to the police patrol cars in the area,” said Delhi police commissioner B S Bassi at the launch. He warned that the application is meant only for emergencies and pranksters will be penalised.
Himmat has been downloaded 10,000 times, but not everybody is happy with it. Several users complained of their smartphone battery getting drained after the app was installed. Others criticised its dependence on strong GPS signal, difficult navigation, and its tendency to slow down the phone.
Mumbai Police: ICE
Downloads: 5,000+
User rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
Key features: SOS messages, tips on safety, contact details of family members
In January 2013, the Mumbai police launched its free SOS app for women in distress, which claims to send emergency messages on pre-saved numbers in different categories, such as home, work and even fire station, at the press of a button.
The app, which includes safety tips, has crossed 5,000 downloads. But its effectiveness is questioned by many reviewers. The newspaper DNA tested its facility of sending SOS messages but “gave up after four failed attempts”.
“We tried sending the SOS message to other numbers too, but it still didn’t work,” the paper’s review said. “Overall, the app is more suitable for a heart, asthma or a blood pressure patient than for prevention of crimes against women.”
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The police forces in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Gurgaon and Kochi have created security apps with varying functions. Some give the user a way to connect with the local cop, while others just serve the purpose of sending emergency alerts or as emergency number database. Some apps work well, while others predictably do not. Of them all, Hyderabad police’s app stands out by far.
There are still cities that have not caught up with the trend, including Bangalore and Chennai. Here is a look at some of those who have:
Hyderabad Police: Hawk Eye
Downloads: 1,000+
User rating: 4.6 stars out of five
Key features: Reporting violations, tracking complaints, women safety features
Though not an early starter, the Hyderabad police has put together an app that other forces can learn from. Called Hawk Eye and launched on December 31 last year, it has a bundle of features, including one for women’s safety. The app allows users to track complaints, report violations, and register tenants or security personnel. In it can be found a list of emergency contacts.
Since its recent launch, the app has been downloaded close to 1,000 times and the 348 reviews of it together provide a rating of 4.6 stars out of five. While the reviews are mostly positive, some users have pointed out bugs: a missing help menu, absence of location reporting.
Delhi Police: Himmat
Downloads: 10,000+
User rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
Key features: Emergency alarm, transmits audio-video directly to the police
A day after the launch of Hawk Eye, Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh distributed pepper spray to women and launched Delhi police’s safety application called Himmat, which can be used to send emergency messages to the police control room.
At the press of a button, “all the details of the victim, including her location, will be there in an SMS, which will also be transmitted simultaneously by the police control room to the police patrol cars in the area,” said Delhi police commissioner B S Bassi at the launch. He warned that the application is meant only for emergencies and pranksters will be penalised.
Himmat has been downloaded 10,000 times, but not everybody is happy with it. Several users complained of their smartphone battery getting drained after the app was installed. Others criticised its dependence on strong GPS signal, difficult navigation, and its tendency to slow down the phone.
Mumbai Police: ICE
Downloads: 5,000+
User rating: 4.2 stars out of 5
Key features: SOS messages, tips on safety, contact details of family members
In January 2013, the Mumbai police launched its free SOS app for women in distress, which claims to send emergency messages on pre-saved numbers in different categories, such as home, work and even fire station, at the press of a button.
The app, which includes safety tips, has crossed 5,000 downloads. But its effectiveness is questioned by many reviewers. The newspaper DNA tested its facility of sending SOS messages but “gave up after four failed attempts”.
“We tried sending the SOS message to other numbers too, but it still didn’t work,” the paper’s review said. “Overall, the app is more suitable for a heart, asthma or a blood pressure patient than for prevention of crimes against women.”
