Centre to award medal for best crime probe on R- Day

◗ These new medals will be distributed among the states on basis of the average of criminal cases registered under the Indian Penal Code

In an interesting move aimed at improving the quality of investigations into criminal cases, the Centre has decided to institute a “Union Home Minister’s Medal for Excellence in Police Investigation”. This would be on lines on police medals given for gallantry and meritorious services and would be awarded on Independence Day. Out of a total of 162 of these medals for investigations, 137 have been reserved for the states and Union Territories, while 25 would be awarded to investigating agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency and the Narcotics Control Bureau.

Home ministry officials said the move will encourage police officers across the country to improve quality of investigations, particularly in important cases which in turn will result in better conviction of heinous cases in a court of law.

Police officers between the ranks of sub- inspector and superintendent of police will be eligible for the award. There will be a quota of medals for women police officers investigating the cases.

These new medals will be distributed among the states on basis of the average of criminal cases registered under the Indian Penal Code ( IPC) and the crime data published by the National Crime Records Bureau ( NCRB) for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The distribution of medals will be reviewed after every three years based on the average crime data.

The Bureau of Police Research & Development ( BPR& D) will be the nodal agency for these medals and invite nominations from all states, UTs and central investigating agencies based on recommendations from a statelevel committee, which would be headed by a police officer of the rank of additional director general.

These nominations will be processed by a screening committee in BPR& D and approved by a sanctioning committee in the home ministry.