Crime bust website launched
The fight against crime has now gone digital with the launch of a website where citizens can post photos and videos capturing criminal activities.
Internal Security cabinet secretary Joseph ole Lenku on Thursday launched the Usalama Watch Platform on Thursday that is part of the police modernisation initiative.
Through the website, www.usalamawatch.go.ke, members of the public can report crime anonymously through photos and videos
“Through this website, the public can send still photos and videos. The website is very secure and Kenyans can participate anonymously. Usalama Watch guarantees them security and confidentiality,” said ole Lenku.
Mr Lenku says that the website is also available on a mobile platform to ensure that millions are able to use it.
“This is part of the police modernization that includes the incorporation of the call centre and analysis section,” he said.
The Government, in adopting a multi-pronged approach to insecurity in the country, developed the website that would allow the public to report crime and even send photographic evidence, to the police.
Citizens can upload one video or one photo, with a storage capacity of up to 1 gigabyte (GB), at a time.
The website will be manned by a call centre comprising officers from the National Police Service, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the military.
The centre is based at the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo’s Jogoo House office.
According to Mr Lenku the officers manning the website will immediately alert the nearest police station upon receipt of information.
The website is a brainchild of the inter-ministerial security systems committee tasked to oversee the upgrading of technology as a tool for combating crime
The committee’s head of technical section, Mr Bitange Ndemo, a former Information and Communication PS, explained that all the information received would be analysed to guide other policies in crime prevention.
“The website will act as the interface between the public and the police. We believe that the police can tap into the public use of technology to improve security through quick reporting and response to crime,” said Mr Ndemo.
Mr Lenku was flanked by the IGP David Kimaiyo, NIS boss Michael Gichangi, Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo, and Mr Ndemo.