In Gujarat, the police have started a new initiative called GP-SMASH (Gujarat Police – Social Media Awareness and Systematic Handling). This project aims to listen to the concerns, complaints, and suggestions of citizens on social media and respond quickly. It began on March 1, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi.
Within just three months, GP-SMASH has received positive feedback from citizens. The initiative has successfully handled 335 citizen complaints by tagging the respective district, range, or unit heads for prompt resolution. The main goal is to address issues raised on social media with sensitivity and responsibility, ensuring timely responses.
How does GP-SMASH work? It is a social media monitoring project that operates 24/7. A dedicated team monitors posts related to police activities, complaints, and crimes across various social media platforms. When citizens tag the Gujarat Police on these platforms, the team responds within minutes.
After monitoring the posts, they communicate with the relevant district or unit heads to investigate and take necessary action on issues like law and order, traffic problems, cyber fraud, and complaints of bribery or misconduct by government officials. The relevant authorities are instructed to update the same post with their actions and resolutions, ensuring transparency in handling these issues.
In these three months, GP-SMASH has resolved over 310 issues positively. Under the leadership of DIG Deepak Meghani, the GP-SMASH team has successfully directed the concerns of 335 citizens to the appropriate authorities. A significant number of these problems have been resolved within hours, marking a major success in citizen engagement.
The effectiveness of GP-SMASH has made citizens feel more secure, knowing that the police are just a click away. Social media queries are no longer just trends; they are met with immediate responses. This has significantly increased public trust in the police and a sense of safety among the citizens.
The project is not just about digital monitoring; it represents a strong step towards a responsible and technology-driven police system. For example, a recent case involved a citizen, Sushil Kumar Tiwari, who raised a concern about a drug user behaving inappropriately on a moving train. The GP-SMASH team responded quickly, tagging the Western Railway and Surat police. They acted before the train reached Surat, apprehending the suspect and taking legal action. The citizen praised the quick response of the police, highlighting the effectiveness of GP-SMASH.
GP-SMASH has transformed how the Gujarat Police interacts with the public. It has created a more efficient and responsive system, ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard and acted upon swiftly. As a result, the relationship between the police and the community has strengthened, leading to a safer environment for everyone in Gujarat. The project stands as an example of how technology can enhance public safety and citizen engagement in modern policing.
In conclusion, the GP-SMASH initiative by the Gujarat Police is a significant advancement in addressing citizen complaints through social media. Its success in resolving issues promptly demonstrates the potential of modern policing to adapt to the needs of the community, making citizens feel safer and more connected to their local law enforcement.
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