Five all-women PCR vans launched in City

The all-women PCRs, each with three women personnel, will ply in five primary areas — Vigyan Bhawan, Jesus & Mary College, Khan Market Metro Station, American Centre at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, and Moti Lal Nehru Marg.

One of the women personnel will be the driver of the PCR van, another will carry an MP-5 gun.

Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma flagged off the PCR vans from the police headquarters here.

The women personnel have undergone a three-month training where they were taught driving, firing and unarmed combat skills. They were also given behavioural training to tackle complaints from women, said Sanjay Beniwal, special commissioner of police(operations).

“The PCR vehicles are the first responders in case of any incident and hence their role is very important. These women personnel have been trained to handle all kinds of distress calls and have undergone a basic medical training,” he added. 

Currently, there are 20 women police personnel who have been trained for the job and plans are 

afoot to train more. As of now, they will work in one shift- 9 am to 5pm, said DCP (PCR) RK Singh. 

“After they are more confident in handling calls, they will be posted in areas that are frequented by women and children. They will be posted around girls schools, malls and markets and around girls colleges on North and South Campus,” said Singh. Though they will be tending to all kinds of calls, their primary focus will be those from women in distress. The areas where they will be stationed have been identified after a trial run.

“We are feeling proud to be associated with such a thing. It is a confidence-boosting measure for women who enroll in police,” said Saira Bano, a woman sub-inspector with the newly-launched PCR.

Another woman constable, who has learnt driving, courtesy this initiative, said, “In the last three months, I learnt to drive a car. I feel much more empowered and confident now.”