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Policy, Law, and Governance Insights

ISSN: 3107-7706 (Online) | Frequency: Half-yearly | Type: Open Access | Peer Review: Double Blind

Editor in Chief : Prof. (Dr.) Rashmi Aggarwal

About : Policy, Law, and Governance Insights is a bi-annual, peer-reviewed, national e-journal dedicated to publishing scholarly research and insights into policy analysis, legal frameworks, governance models, and public administration. The journal seeks to promote interdisciplinary dialogue on public polic Read more

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AI-Based SMART Policing Initiative and Citizen Engagement: An Analysis of Public Perception of Technology-Driven Law Enforcement in Jammu & Kashmir

  • Siddharth Mahajan* Siddharth Mahajan Corresponding author Research Scholar Department of Public Policy and Public Administration, Central University of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India India Siddharth Mahajan ORCID Id ,  
  • Rouchi Chaudhary Rouchi Chaudhary Associate Professor Department of Public Policy and Public Administration, Central University of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India India Rouchi Chaudhary ORCID Id
Received: September 25, 2025
Accepted: November 10, 2025
Published: December 15, 2025
Volume: 1 (2) | Page: 45-58

Abstract

The primary focus of this study is to explore how citizens of Jammu and Kashmir feel about the use of various AI-powered policing technologies, such as AI-based facial Recognition Systems, the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), and the JKecop mobile application. These technologies combine Artificial Intelligence (AI) and SMART policing to improve and develop law enforcement by preventing crime, enhancing public safety, and supporting citizen engagement.

This research uses a mixed-method approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods to understand public perception. A well-structured questionnaire with fifty questions is used to collect data from 200 respondents combined with 50 in-depth interviews to gain a deeper understanding of AI-powered SMART policing and citizen engagement. Theoretical framework of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is used to explore the factors of AI-driven law enforcement technologies- usefulness, comfortability, security, and trust - which influences the citizen to accept AI policing in J&K. Quantitative analytical framework includes descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression, while interviews are examined through thematic analysis based on common patterns and concerns.

The findings of this study show that AI-powered policing has improved citizen safety, crime detection, and traffic control by ensuring privacy, ethical surveillance, and digital literacy among the citizens of Jammu & Kashmir. The study suggests that clear AI policies, proper public awareness programs, and ethical guidelines can help citizens build more trust, ensure efficient implementation with transparency, and result in a citizen-friendly approach. The major contribution of this research is that it provides empirical data on public perception, which can be used by government and policy-makers in improving AI policing in Jammu and Kashmir.

Keywords: AI Policing, SMART Law Enforcement, Citizen-Centric Policing, JKecop, ITMS, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Digital Trust, and Police Public relationship.

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