60 ACPS will now monitor crimes against women
NEW DELHI: In a significant move, the Delhi Police commissioner has appointed around 60 assistant commissioners of police (ACPS), posted in sub-divisions of the 14 police districts in Delhi, as “nodal officers” to monitor cases of crimes against women.
One woman inspector from each sub-division has been chosen as assistant nodal officer. These women inspectors will assist the ACPS in supervising cases of rape, molestation, sexual harassment, dowry harassment, and domestic violence. The two will together form a core team that will monitor such cases in their respective sub-division, right from the registration of the FIR to filing of chargesheet and trial of cases in concerned courts.
“The nodal officer shall also keep a watch on the vulnerable areas having regard to the past tendencies where such crime frequently occurs with a view to effectively police such areas and ensure that police personnel are deployed, in adequate numbers, in those areas,” the police chief has directed in the order. HT has a copy of the order.
In the existing arrangements, it is mandatory that only women police officers probe cases of sexual assault on women. The monitoring of cases is done by station house officers (SHOS) in overall supervision of deputy commissioner of police (DCPS) of police districts. “Shortage of women investigators and multiplicity of tasks SHOS and DCPS have to perform make it difficult for them to monitor such cases on daily basis. At times, it leads to loopholes in investigations and acquittal of accused in courts,” said a police officer.
National crime records bureau data (NCRB) data of 2016 shows that in Delhi, the conviction rate in cases of crime against women was merely 35%. Police statistics show that more than 13,000 crime against women cases, including over 6,000 sexual offences, were registered last year.
The city witnessed an average of 35 such crimes every day. At least 14% out of 2,146 rape cases remained unsolved in 2017. Similarly, police could not make any breakthrough in around 28% of the total 3,422 molestation cases registered in police stations across the city the previous year, shows police data.
“This arrangement will ensure that women related cases are supervised and monitored closely and get investigated professionally. Senior officer level supervision will guarantee that there is no unnecessary delay in the probe. Women safety has been our top priority and we are committed to it,” said Delhi Police chief spokesperson Dependra Pathak.