MHA think tank suggests two new models of beat patrolling
NEW DELHI: Union home ministry’s think-tank, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), has recommended two new models of beat patrolling to the Union home ministry for urban and non-urban areas to improve policing at the grass-root level and strengthen police-public relation, which is marred by distrust. It has also recommended giving powers to the constables to investigate cognizable offences so that they can probe simple cases.
The recommendations were made in a report submitted by the BPRD to the MHA. It suggested that police station areas in urban centres should be divided into 3 to 5 large beats with 3-4 constables or head constables allotted to each beat. It said the size of the beat and number of beat officers allotted should depend on the crime and law and order requirements of that particular area and it should be marked in a way that a beat officer should be able to cover the entire beat in about an hour on foot. The BPRD also said in the report that these beat officers shall not normally be allotted any other work, except during major law and order disturbances, disaster management requirements, VVIP visits and elections.
“They shall adjust their work in such a manner that at least one of them will be available in the beat discharging beat related work all the time,” the report, reviewed by HT, stated. For non-urban areas, the BPRD has recommended dividing a police station area into 15-20 or more beats with one constable/head constable deputed to each beat. “Ideally, there should be one beat for each ward/panchayat,” BPRD said.
“The beat officers allotted to each non-urban area beat shall be responsible for all the policing functions. They shall take the assistance of the village guards/ chowkidars.. Beat officers of neighbouring beats may be appointed as the ‘link officers’ for the other’s beat during the periods of the long absence of the beat officer,” the report stated. “The state government(s) may consider giving powers of investigation to constables by amending the Police Rules wherever they do not allow an investigation by constables,”it added.