Police Force Must Evolve to Meet Emerging Challenges, Says CM N. Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called for a comprehensive transformation of the state's policing system to keep pace with rapidly changing times and emerging security challenges. Stressing the growing role of technology in law enforcement, he said every police officer should be equipped with digital skills and encouraged the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into crime prevention and investigation.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the valedictory session of the three-day AP Police Retreat 2026, which concluded on Thursday night. During the event, he reviewed recommendations and strategic proposals submitted by senior IPS officers for building a technology-driven and citizen-centric policing system.

Naidu emphasized that the nature of crime is evolving, making continuous skill development essential for the police force. He proposed introducing specialized training and certification programmes for officers in key areas such as cybercrime investigation, tackling social media abuse, protecting women from crimes, combating ganja and narcotics trafficking, and improving investigation standards to ensure higher conviction rates.

The Chief Minister also suggested examining a proposal to temporarily depute Andhra Pradesh Special Police (APSP) trainees to district police units. He said such exposure would provide them with practical policing experience and strengthen their operational capabilities before permanent assignments.

Highlighting the importance of staying updated with global policing trends, Naidu advised senior police officers to maintain regular interaction with university professors, researchers, and subject experts to understand emerging technologies and adopt best practices in law enforcement.

He further instructed the police department to focus not only on preventing fresh offences but also on closely monitoring habitual offenders and promoting their rehabilitation wherever possible. At the same time, he underlined the need to make better use of the extensive field experience of Head Constables and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs), describing them as valuable assets whose knowledge should be effectively utilized to improve policing and public service delivery.