In an effort to build its image as a “women-friendly” force, post the gangrape incident last month, and to prepare women personnel for more challenging jobs in a largely male-dominated force, the Delhi Police has started an intensive training programme for 39 women inspectors.
The training, which started last Wednesday at the Special Training College (STC) in Rajinder Nagar, is focused on preparing women inspectors to assume roles with greater importance such as Station House Officers, Inspector, Anti-Terror Ops and Inspector, Investigation.
Police sources said the emphasis was on on developing investigative skills and forensic expertise among women personnel. Lessons on preservation of crime scene, gathering vital clues from the spot, finger-printing and palm-matching systems and investigating cases under the National Security Act and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act form an integral part of the training.
“After the gangrape incident last month, police have made a conscious effort to include women police officers in roles with greater interaction with public. So the training programme has specialised classes on handling sexual assault complaints, crime against women, monitoring of cases, informing complainants about progress in investigations and human rights and gender sensitivity,” a senior police officer, who is part of the training, said.
The course module also includes topics on managerial and professional excellence such as leadership skills, motivating cadres, managing a police station, disposal of case properties, vehicles, manpower deployment and daily tasking of beat officers and junior officers.
Moreover, issues such as prevention and detection of crime, integration of police vehicles and PCR vans, crime analysis, profiling and verification of criminal records, compliance with court directions and working of CCTV network systems are being taught.
Senior police officers —both retired and in service — have been enlisted to conduct the training. Forensic experts from Central Forensic Science Laboratory, medical officers who perform autopsies, defence lawyers, public prosecutors, judicial officers, members of gender-sensitive groups, National Human Rights Commission and NGOs will also provide “comprehensive” training and skills to the participants.
Special Commissioner of Police (Training and Special Cell), S N Srivastava told Newsline that the idea was to “prepare women inspectors for more crucial roles”.
“A committee interviews inspectors on basis of seniority and forwards their names to the Delhi Police Commissioner. The final selection of course participants is made by the Police Establishment Board,” Srivastava said.
Delhi Police faces a severe shortage of women police officers, especially in higher ranks such as SHOs, ACPs and DCPs.
Not a single woman police officer currently holds the rank of Joint Commissioner of Police. Last week, Centre had asked all states and Union territories to make the strength of women cops 33 per cent of the total strength and approved the recruitment of an additional 2,508 women personnel for Delhi Police.
“There are some women inspectors who are not keen to take up the posts of SHOs and inspector, investigation owing to personal issues as the jobs are challenging. Some officers are enthusiastic and ready to take up these posts but they are junior in rank. One cannot force these posts on an officer; they should be willing to take up the job. So, we are currently training around 39 women police officers and they will be put in crucial posts. This training will boost their confidence,” Srivastava said.
11 new PCR vans were launched by Delhi Police’s Special Commissioner (Law and Order), Deepak Mishra on Sunday.
They are part of the additional 350 PCR vans being pressed into service to step up security in the capital.
These new vans will patrol and secure the border areas of the NCR. They are equipped with GPS and will patrol highways. “We have provided the personnel in these vans with long-range weapons,” Mishra said.
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