391. Village Crime Note-Book. [§ 12, Act V, 1861].
(a)In order to deal effectively with crime it is necessary to have a continuous and permanent record of the criminal history of individuals and localities. To secure this, there shall be maintained for each village or other administrative area which may be chosen as the unit for the purpose, a "Village Crime Note-Book" which will contain information about crime and criminals, including convicts and suspects. It shall be kept in B.P. Form Nos. 78-83 (I-V) at each district police-station. It is maintained under the provisions of section 12, Police Act, 1861, and shall be treated as an unpublished official record relating to affairs of State. It is a confidential and privileged document and is not to be exhibited in Court without the permission of the head of the office, and no Judge.can compel its production except with the same permission (section 165, Indian Evidence Act, 1872). It is open to inspection by magisterial and police authorities, but no outsider shall see it or obtain copies of its contents.Note:- If a Court directs the production of the Village Crime Note-Book, or any pair of it, police officers concerned will act as laid down in sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.(b)The Village Crime Note-Book shall be divided into the following parts :-
