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DIG says data collection helps combat crime
View(s):A form Police issue periodically to collect data on permanent and temporary residents in a police area is useful in the prevention of crime, a senior official said, calling on residents to cooperate.
Deputy Inspector General Kamal Silva said the main objective of the exercise was to gather information of temporary residents such as domestic aides and construction workers, some of whom had criminal records.
The data collected are checked against the Criminal Record Division database to identify criminal elements among them, he said.
The DIG said the data collected had proved useful in resolving cases of house breaking, murders and other criminal acts.
However, some residents have questioned the need for permanent residents to furnish details about themselves regularly when the grama niladhari of the area has the necessary information about them.