Andhra Pradesh Home Minister V. Anitha has said that the State police must transform into a technology-driven, faster and citizen-centric force to effectively respond to the rapidly evolving nature of crime.
Ms. Anitha took part in the ‘Future-Ready AP Police Retreat-2026’ held at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Kala Vedika in Vijayawada on Tuesday.
Ms. Anitha stated that the government had significantly contained factional violence, Left Wing Extremism and communal disturbances in the State. “Combating cybercrime, rowdyism and the misuse of social media are among the priorities now,” she said.
She urged the police to utilise modern technologies and digital tools to counter emerging forms of crime.
Reiterating that the safety of women and children remained one of the government’s highest priorities, the Home Minister said crimes against women had been reduced by nearly 4 per cent.
She highlighted the success of the government’s EAGLE initiative in combating ganja cultivation and trafficking.
She described the revival of the ‘Police Retreat’ after 25 years as a historic initiative. The retreat, first introduced in 2001 by then Chief Minister and current Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as part of police reforms, has now been revived with the same vision, she said, adding that the objective of the programme is to prepare the police force for future challenges by anticipating emerging trends in crime and law enforcement.
Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta announced that in addition to meeting physical eligibility criteria, young people with expertise in coding, cryptography, cybersecurity, and other advanced technology fields will also be recruited into the police force.
To tackle cyber fraud originating from overseas, deepfake technology and anonymous cyber threats, the Police Department would strengthen its intelligence and early warning systems, he said.
He said that the department had prepared a roadmap covering ten key focus areas, with a clear shift from conventional policing to digital and technology-driven policing. The DGP said police performance would no longer be evaluated solely on the number of cases registered, but also on the number of crimes and incidents prevented through proactive policing.
He announced that with the increasing use of drones, a dedicated drone surveillance and management system would be established at the Police Headquarters to monitor and regulate drone operations.
The DGP said the department would improve the 112 emergency response system to ensure immediate action on distress calls.
According to the officials, the two-day retreat included discussions on critical areas such as crimes against women & children, cyber security, eradication of rowdyism, control of factional violence, elimination of Left Wing Extremism and promotion of communal harmony.
Published - July 22, 2026 11:57 am IST