Bengaluru: In a significant step towards strengthening urban safety and adopting data-driven policing, the Bengaluru City Police have proposed the creation of a budget-neutral think tank and innovation hub called the Urban Policing Innovation Cell (UPIC). The initiative aims to tap into the intellectual and technological prowess of the city’s premier academic institutions and thriving startup ecosystem to combat rising crime and evolving law-and-order challenges.
Bengaluru Police to collaborate with top institutes
The proposed UPIC will draw expertise from leading educational and research institutions including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), National Law School of India University (NLSIU), NIMHANS, and several technology-driven startups across the city. The cell plans to address Bengaluru’s aggravating issues such as traffic congestion, increasing cybercrime, misinformation, and the growing drug menace.
According to senior officials, UPIC will integrate with existing police infrastructure such as the Command and Control Centre, Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), CCTV surveillance networks, Cyber Economic and Narcotics (CEN) police stations, and Traffic Management Centres. Together, these systems are expected to provide a robust foundation for analytics, research, innovation, and operational enhancements.
A senior officer, requesting anonymity, told DH that the next six months will be dedicated to building a knowledge repository and establishing academic partnerships. “UPIC is expected to be fully operational within one and a half years,” the official added. The cell will function under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police.
Moving beyond manpower-heavy policing
The proposal comes at a time when traditional policing structures are proving inadequate in coping with Bengaluru’s rapidly shifting crime landscape. Frequent transfers of officers often disrupt the continuity of best practices developed within their jurisdictions.
“Many effective policing methods that help improve conviction rates are lost due to inconsistent documentation and officer transfers. The innovation cell aims to institutionalise best practices and ensure they are readily deployable in critical circumstances,” the officer said.
The shift from manpower-intensive models towards data-informed strategies reflects a broader understanding that modern law-and-order problems require technological and analytical interventions.
Addressing vulnerabilities and emerging threats
The officer further explained that one of the core objectives of UPIC is to strengthen the handling of cases involving vulnerable groups such as women, children, and senior citizens. Domestic violence, online exploitation, and trafficking demand not just rapid response but also trauma-informed investigation, preventive monitoring, and sustained rehabilitation support.
“This initiative is intended to develop a victim-sensitive, multi-disciplinary approach. Preventive intelligence, technology-enabled rapid response, and rehabilitation strategies will be key drivers,” the official said.
Leveraging Bengaluru’s tech ecosystem
Bengaluru’s position as India’s technology capital offers a unique advantage for the police department. The city’s smart-city technologies, deep-tech startups, and strong academic research networks provide fertile ground for incubating new policing tools.
“We are focusing on the evolving challenges of urban policing — reducing response time, meeting rising citizen expectations, and analysing social-media narratives that influence public order,” the officer noted.
As several newly developed areas in Bengaluru grow more populated, police have noticed an uptick in property offences, investment frauds, cheating, forgery, and the use of fake documentation. UPIC is expected to work on solutions that enable predictive policing, improve documentation, enhance investigation quality, and strengthen evidence-based decision making.
Micro-level strategies for localised challenges
Emphasising that Bengaluru’s diverse neighbourhoods present varied crime patterns, the officer reiterated that a single strategy cannot be applied across the city.
“Only a customised, geography-specific and domain-specific approach can help investigating officers understand micro-level issues. Better evidence collection, improved documentation, and stronger analytical frameworks will enable higher conviction rates,” he said.
Conclusion
If established as envisioned, the Urban Policing Innovation Cell could transform Bengaluru into a model for technologically advanced, research-driven urban policing. With the city facing rising cybercrime, complex narcotics networks, and growing traffic and safety challenges, the integration of academic expertise and tech innovation may serve as a critical step towards creating safer urban environments.