Rawalpindi police authorities have taken a decisive step to strictly regulate social media activity among police personnel across Punjab. The move comes in response to growing concerns over officers and staff, both in uniform and out of uniform, posting inappropriate content online. The police department has warned that any violation of these new guidelines will result in strict disciplinary action.
A letter from the Additional Inspector General (IG) Investigation Punjab has been dispatched to senior police officials, including Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Babar Sarfraz Alpa, Rawalpindi City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani, and top law enforcement officials in all districts of Punjab, including the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore. The letter reiterates the importance of closely monitoring the social media activities of police personnel.
According to the directive, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for monitoring police social media posts, videos, and other online content have already been issued by the Central Police Office’s operations wing. However, despite these instructions, officers and lower-ranked personnel have continued to use personal social media accounts to share content deemed inappropriate, illegal, or critical of the government and state institutions. The Punjab police leadership considers this behavior a violation of discipline and a form of misconduct. The letter clearly states that any officer found guilty of such actions will face departmental proceedings, as authorized by the competent authorities.
To ensure compliance, Public Relations Officers (PROs) at central, regional, and district levels have been assigned the responsibility of monitoring police personnel’s social media activity. If any inappropriate or unauthorized content surfaces on the internet without prior detection by the designated PROs, they, too, will be held accountable. In such cases, departmental action will not only be taken against the officers responsible for posting the content but also against the PROs who failed to detect and report it in time.
This initiative is aimed at preventing the misuse of social media platforms by law enforcement officials while reinforcing discipline and professionalism within the police force. The Punjab police hierarchy has emphasized that officers, whether on duty or off duty, must uphold ethical standards that align with their role in maintaining law and order. In addition to strict monitoring, the authorities have also planned periodic audits of social media content to ensure that officers adhere to the newly implemented guidelines. These measures are part of a broader effort to protect the integrity of the police force and maintain public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
The move signals a firm stance by the Punjab police against any behavior that could damage the reputation of the department. Higher authorities have stressed that police officers are representatives of the state and must conduct themselves accordingly, both in real life and in the digital space. With these new regulations in place, Punjab police aim to create a more disciplined, accountable, and professional force, ensuring that social media platforms are used responsibly and in a manner that upholds the values of law enforcement.
