DCI addresses delay in issuance of police clearance certificates

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) now say it is fervently tackling a substantial backlog of police clearance certificate applications that has plagued the system since April this year.

The backlog, the DCI said, is a result of a malfunction in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (APFIS), which left them grappling with a mounting backlog of over 600,000 applications, even after the system was restored in September 2023.

According to the Principal Criminal Registrar, the DCI has embarked on a course to mitigate the crisis, implementing a dual approach that combines both automated and manual processing of applications.

“At present, we are processing the clearance certificates on a first in first out basis with special consideration to needy cases like overseas medical treatment, scholarships and booked flights,” the State agency said in a press release on Saturday.

“To ensure such needy cases and all delayed cases are promptly addressed, our officers at the DCI headquarters and Huduma Centres countrywide are sorting out and separately packaging such requests before submitting them for urgent processing.”

It added that the Forensic Fingerprint Identification Bureau (FFIB) officers are now working round the clock, even on weekends, to increase the throughput and expedite the processing of the essential documents.

“As a result, we have so far reduced the pile up from 635,000 to 397,778 applications as at 10th November, 2023," the DCI added.

"We regret the inconveniences caused to the applicants and appeal for calm and patience as the Principal Criminal Registrar bids to clear the remaining backlog soonest possible, thereby finalizing a two-week wait time by February 2024."