A couple of days after the rape of a 27-year-old financial analyst raised country wide agitation and unrest against US-based cab service Uber, Special Police Commissioner (Law & Order) Deepak Mishra speaks to Chayanika Nigam about policing and women’s security issues in the national Capital.
Q: Is banning Uber a solution?
A: Not at all. Banning a cab service provider is not at all a solution to curb crimes against women in the city or across the country. Though it is a good initiative to alert other cab service providers to be more cautious but it is not the only solution. Each department must ensure strict implementation of the rules in public transport system.
Q: Has Delhi Police learnt any lessons from the recent rape?
A: Of course. In fact, not only from this particular unfortunate case but we learn from each and every incident that happens. It is an experience for us. We get to know the ground reality of policing. We learn about the loopholes and try to better measures to ensure safety and security of women, children.
Q: Don’t you think Delhi Police are still standing on the same platform as it was before Nirbhaya gang-rape?
A: The whole process of ‘law and order’ needs upgradation. It will take time to implement the necessary changes. However, in the last two years, things have changed from policing point of view. We have increased our police staff, more PCR vans are patrolling the city, complainants do not find any problem in registering FIRs.
Q: Do you feel Delhi Police are technologically advanced to tackle such issues?
A: We are upgrading our system according to the prevailing trends and technology. These days, social media and usage of smart phones have increased so accordingly we have upgraded our services. For the friendly interaction with citizens, we have begun considering complaints via android applications. To make it easy for the complainant, online registration on the official website of Delhi Police has also started. All the initiatives are accepted by the public and has encouraged us to upgrade ourselves in a better way.
Q: What are the initiatives taken by Delhi Police to provide safety of women during dark hours?
A: Safety of women during dark hours is a prime concern for Delhi Police. As the criminals including proclaimed offenders and first timers, become more active post sundown. Night patrolling via PCR vans, bikes, pickets have been increased. All the staff have been alerted to remain more cautious at night. Concerned officers have been instructed to keep a check on drunken driving. Also, a tab is regularly kept on BPO cabs that must have a male passenger with the female employee.
Q: What is the status of the recent order regarding increase in female cops in Delhi Police?
A: We have recruited around 1,400 female cops recently and they have been sent for 10 months’ training programme. After completion, they will join the police stations. Out of 1400 cops, 150 women will be posted as Sub Inspectors and the rest will serve as constables.
Q: How many dark spots and vulnerable routes have been identified by Delhi Police? What are the measures taken to keep a vigil?
A: There are 729 dark spots identified across the city. These areas are either are dim-lighted or are dark spots (non-functional street lights or unavailability of street lamps). We have written a letter to the concerned authorities to lit these particular identified spots. Around 254 vulnerable routes have been detected where police patrolling has been increased.
Q: What about the centralised data base system? Is it hampering the investigation?
A: Centralised data base system will surely help the police force to track down the records of criminal. Presently, we depend on the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB), from where we have to access to the details of the offender/s. However, SCRB is time consuming.
Q: What will be your message to the people of the national Capital?
A: Respect women, respect the law.
Q: Is banning Uber a solution?
A: Not at all. Banning a cab service provider is not at all a solution to curb crimes against women in the city or across the country. Though it is a good initiative to alert other cab service providers to be more cautious but it is not the only solution. Each department must ensure strict implementation of the rules in public transport system.
Q: Has Delhi Police learnt any lessons from the recent rape?
A: Of course. In fact, not only from this particular unfortunate case but we learn from each and every incident that happens. It is an experience for us. We get to know the ground reality of policing. We learn about the loopholes and try to better measures to ensure safety and security of women, children.
Q: Don’t you think Delhi Police are still standing on the same platform as it was before Nirbhaya gang-rape?
A: The whole process of ‘law and order’ needs upgradation. It will take time to implement the necessary changes. However, in the last two years, things have changed from policing point of view. We have increased our police staff, more PCR vans are patrolling the city, complainants do not find any problem in registering FIRs.
Q: Do you feel Delhi Police are technologically advanced to tackle such issues?
A: We are upgrading our system according to the prevailing trends and technology. These days, social media and usage of smart phones have increased so accordingly we have upgraded our services. For the friendly interaction with citizens, we have begun considering complaints via android applications. To make it easy for the complainant, online registration on the official website of Delhi Police has also started. All the initiatives are accepted by the public and has encouraged us to upgrade ourselves in a better way.
Q: What are the initiatives taken by Delhi Police to provide safety of women during dark hours?
A: Safety of women during dark hours is a prime concern for Delhi Police. As the criminals including proclaimed offenders and first timers, become more active post sundown. Night patrolling via PCR vans, bikes, pickets have been increased. All the staff have been alerted to remain more cautious at night. Concerned officers have been instructed to keep a check on drunken driving. Also, a tab is regularly kept on BPO cabs that must have a male passenger with the female employee.
Q: What is the status of the recent order regarding increase in female cops in Delhi Police?
A: We have recruited around 1,400 female cops recently and they have been sent for 10 months’ training programme. After completion, they will join the police stations. Out of 1400 cops, 150 women will be posted as Sub Inspectors and the rest will serve as constables.
Q: How many dark spots and vulnerable routes have been identified by Delhi Police? What are the measures taken to keep a vigil?
A: There are 729 dark spots identified across the city. These areas are either are dim-lighted or are dark spots (non-functional street lights or unavailability of street lamps). We have written a letter to the concerned authorities to lit these particular identified spots. Around 254 vulnerable routes have been detected where police patrolling has been increased.
Q: What about the centralised data base system? Is it hampering the investigation?
A: Centralised data base system will surely help the police force to track down the records of criminal. Presently, we depend on the State Crime Record Bureau (SCRB), from where we have to access to the details of the offender/s. However, SCRB is time consuming.
Q: What will be your message to the people of the national Capital?
A: Respect women, respect the law.