The Chittagong Metropolitan Police yesterday announced that the area it covers would be divided into 135 beats to create a database of local people, criminals, establishments and the characteristics of crimes at specific spots.

It also banned the use of various occupational stickers like those of journalist, police, advocate, CMP and doctor on vehicles.

CMP Commissioner Iqbal Bahar made the announcement at a press conference held on the occasion of the inauguration of beat policing at the CMP headquarters in the port city.

Earlier on May 4, stickers of different professions were banned in the Dhaka metropolitan area to prevent criminals from using those to their advantage.

Iqbal said every police station would have five to 15 beats under its jurisdiction and a sub-inspector would be in-charge of a beat and would collect information about the area.

“Beat policing would help determine the characteristics of crimes occurring in a beat area.”

At the conference, the CMP also directed city dwellers not to use hydraulic horns, loud hooters and beaconing lights in private vehicles.

Hooter and beaconing lights can only be used in the vehicles of police and fire service and ambulances, the CMP commissioner said.

The use of stickers would be a punishable act, he said. Opaque glass or tinted paper will not be allowed on microbuses but one can use “built-in” colour glasses on a microbus.

“To bring discipline in traffic management and to implement traffic laws properly, the authorities took the initiative,” Iqbal said.

Urging all city dwellers to follow traffic rules, he said legal measures would be taken against anyone for violating them.

The CMP commissioner also said city people must wear helmets while riding on a motorcycle and that not more than two people should travel on a motorcycle together.