After the notification was issued in January 2007, it did not get a good response. But a few months later when it was re-issued, the locals cooperated with the department, according to the police.

“We have solved many cases of robbery, theft and minor abduction in the past with these details,” said Brar.

The Commissioner has also instructed his staff at various branches to conduct checking in their areas on Saturdays and Sundays, and take strict action against those who fail to give the necessary information.

The notification says that factory owners ought to keep records of their staff and labourers working in their firms, residential society presidents should keep records of the security guards in their society, house owners need to have details of domestic helps and also of tenants to whom they have rented their houses.

The records should include full name, present address, permanent address with contact number, photograph, relatives' addresses and their contact numbers. These information ought to be submitted at the nearest police station.

The police recently rescued a two-year-old girl, Anmol, who was kidnapped by her neighbour from Sachin area of GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation). The accused had fled to his native village in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh with the girl. The police nabbed him after getting his photograph and address from the house owner where he was staying as a tenant.

Brar said that till now, 12,764 factory owners have submitted details of their employees, 3,024 society presidents have submitted details of their security guards, 1,632 apartment presidents have provided details of their security guards, 489 labour contractors have furnished details about labourers, 53,991 house owners have given details about their tenants and 67,600 house owners have given details of domestic servants working in their house.

Also, the police have taken legal actions against 1,149 people, who had not provided details to the police. “Strict legal actions were taken against those who failed to submit the details and were sent behind the bars under Section 188 of the IPC. There are many people in some areas of the city like Umra, Athwalines and Rander, where they failed to submit their reports to the police.”

“We have not achieved our target, but we expect that the number will rise in future,” he added.

He went on to say that lakhs of people come to Surat for job and business from various other states. Among them, he said, some commit crime and escape to their native places.