Three hundred women constables will soon be part of Mumbai police's traffic branch. The decision was taken after the existing women constables drew wide praise from Mumbaikars, who found them well-mannered and uncorrupted. "Their performance was reviewed by a panel on administrative reforms in the Mumbai police. It felt that, in view of positive feedback from all sections of society, the police should have more women constables in its traffic branch," a senior IPS officer has said.
A review by Mumbai police has shown that most women traffic constables are perceived to be honest and well-behaved. "The general view of our reforms committee is that women constables are soft spoken and more devoted to work. This is why, the panel felt, women should be on traffic duty as the maximum interaction of the aam admi is with the traffic policemen. If they behave well, it will help improve the police's image," said a senior IPS officer.
The police have also decided to deploy 800 women constables in the local arms division. "In this division, there are very few women. The committee proposed the creation of a separate women's wing, which is to be provided with special facilities, for example, a creche to take care of children while the women are on duty."
The committee has also recommended the withdrawal of constables from deployment at the residences of deputy commissioners and additional commissioners. "The panel found three to four constables posted at the re s i d e n c e s o f each officer from a section of DCPs and ACPs. This is illegal. At a juncture when the police are facing an acute shortage of manpower, well over 100 constables are deployed at the residences of high-ranking officials," the IPS officer said.
Another crucial finding of the committee is that well over 1,500 constables are unfit and inefficient; they have chronic diseases or are in the habit of consuming liquor even on duty. At present, they are posted in police stations and offices across the city. The committee has recommended that they be shifted to the local arms division. "The panel has observed that the performance of these constables is dismal. Also, they are responsible for damaging the police's image. Once they are deployed in the arms division, they will not be able to interact with the aam admi," the IPS officer said.
The panel has also recommended that to improve police efficiency, constables and junior officers who have completed six years at a particular posing should be transferred.
The committee, which comprises two joint commissioners and four deputy commissioners, was set up by police commissioner Arup Patnaik.
Times View
Quick-response teams to react to emergencies are a necessity to tackle crime in Mumbai. But what needs to change more is the attitude of officers and constables to victims of crime and people reporting crime. A police force that is not citizen-friendly will not be able to keep crime rates down, however many special teams are constituted. Tardy response to complaints remains the commonest public grievance against Mumbai Police.
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