With the rise in digital technology-driven crimes, the Nepal Police Crime Investigation Department (CID) is set to use Artificial Intelligence-based business intelligence tools for crime control.

Though still in the preliminary phase, AI may significantly enhance the trend analysis of crime to simplify the prediction and investigation processes, officials say.

At a press conference held at the Nepal Police Headquarters in Naxal on Monday, CID officials emphasised the need to use AI to control crime.

Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Kuber Kadayat, also the chief of the department, said AI technology will be used to analyse patterns more precisely and will allow enhanced predictability, enabling efficient law enforcement.

“AI technology can be used for purposes beyond merely controlling crime, such as evaluation of personnel for promotion within the organisation,” Kadayat said.

He stated that police performance data fed into AI systems can provide suggestions to the police officers on possible promotion according to individual performances. This is expected to pave the way for a more data-driven and transparent process of career advancement within Nepal Police, he stated.

Police officers believe new technology has the potential to be a game changer in terms of policing in Nepal.

The CID of Nepal Police has purchased an AI-based business intelligence tool from an India-based company, and it is in the implementation phase.

“At least 15 personnel from our department have been trained in Pune, India,” Kadayat said. “Training is complete, and now we are in the phase of using AI tools to control crimes.”

He added, “With the implementation of AI-based technology, we hope our department will also be able to predict crime patterns with greater accuracy.”

Nepal Police is the first government institution in Nepal to employ this technology, said Arun Bhandari, who heads the Information Technology (IT) department at the CID.

“This technology is not only being used by Indian police but also by police forces of other countries,” Bhandari said.

The hardware and software needed to run the AI has already been purchased, Bhandari said. The procurement of technology for the Nepal Police has been supported by the Finance Ministry, as it is rather costly, he added.

At the interaction with the media, CID officials also said that an agreement has been reached with universities to conduct research on crime control and investigation. For that, three different colleges have been selected for three different topics of research, police officials said.

While the National Law College is researching improved financial crime investigation, Nepal Law Campus will conduct research on human trafficking nexus and control mechanism in Nepal. Meanwhile, students from Kathmandu School of Law will study contemporary investigation tools and techniques and their application in Nepal Police.

Additionally, CID officials also claim the digital forensic labs will be set up in all the provinces.

Meanwhile, the police have initiated the process of setting up a DNA testing laboratory in Pokhara. Currently, DNA tests are done only in the Kathmandu lab.

Given the current pressure to deliver DNA test results on time, the process of expanding laboratory work has been initiated, CID chief Kadayat said. Kadayat said the process of purchasing equipment for the lab is also being expedited.