Naidu Calls for Visible, Tech-Driven Policing to Tackle Emerging Crimes

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday called for a transformation of the state police into a visible, technology-driven and people-friendly force capable of addressing challenges, also including cybercrime, social media misuse and organised criminal activities.

Addressing the AP Police Retreat 2026 – Future Ready AP Police Conference here, he said policing must evolve with changing times and stressed the need to restructure the police system in line with new-age crimes. He advocated a shift from an "invisible police" approach to "visible policing" while extensively leveraging advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, to improve efficiency and public confidence.

Recalling a similar Future Policing workshop held in 2001, Naidu said the crime landscape had changed drastically over the past 25 years. He noted that the misuse of social media by certain elements was creating unrest in society and the police should formulate effective strategies and deliver measurable results in maintaining law and order.

Citing the success of Operation Sindoor, the CM said technology had enabled the authorities to execute the operation efficiently with minimal manpower, highlighting its transformative potential in modern policing. He also referred to the swift recovery of the abducted Lord Hanuman idol from the Tirumala footpath, saying timely use of technology prevented the spread of public mistrust.

Referring to the Pastor Praveen incident, he observed that misinformation had taken several days to counter, underlining the need for quicker responses to false narratives.

The Chief Minister said the state had made significant progress in curbing ganja cultivation and trafficking but stressed that more efforts were needed as drug abuse was destroying families and fuelling crimes.

He directed officials to further strengthen the dog squad and forensic science departments.

Calling for institutional reforms, Naidu urged the reorientation of the police workforce through digital literacy, AI adoption, certification programmes and specialised training in cybercrime, crimes against women, narcotics control, social media-related offences and improving conviction rates.

Naidu also suggested practical field exposure for APSP trainees, greater interaction between senior officers and technology experts, and better utilisation of the experience of head constables and ASIs.

The three-day conference brought together senior IPS officers from across the state to deliberate on future policing strategies and build a citizen-centric, technology-enabled police force.