Cops will reach out to victims in a better way

The first Wednesday of every month will be reserved for interaction between senior police officers and complainants

The first Wednesday of every month will be reserved for a thorough review of crime against women. The complainants (girls and women) can now approach senior police officials during open meetings and discuss their problems.

This review day would be observed in each district of UP as per the directives of DGP AL Banerjee in the wake of cops facing flak over crime against women.

“Police officials will review pending cases of crime against women, progress in the investigation, trial and the safety of victims,” said Babita Singh, de puty superintendent of police (DySP) of Lucknow police, who has been made nodal officer for the purpose in the state capital.

She said the complainants, who often failed to get proper response at the police station level, could even share their problems with senior officials, who in turn, would try to resolve them immediately.

The DySP said the first review meeting would be held at the Reserve Police Lines on Wednesday (August 6). He said, “In the first such meeting, we would take up all cases of crime against women reported in Lucknow this year. Gradually, the officials would also look into other pending cases on a monthly basis.”

Singh said the review would also include ensuring the safety of victims of rape, acid attack and molestation incidents. She said, “Our teams headed by one woman sub-inspector would revisit the victims’ houses and crosscheck whether they are feeling safe or not. Proper action would be initiated against the accused persons, if they try to threaten victims.”

She emphasised that the exercise would also help victims stand up against the accused during the trial process. She said the list of the victims’ contact numbers would also be maintained and senior police officials would crosscheck their status by calling them randomly. This would be done to confirm whether they are satisfied with the police action or not.

The complaints coming to the police through different commissions (like NCW and other organisations) would also be placed during the review meeting. She said the complaints related to domestic violence and dowry harassment pending in family grievances cells would also be taken up, as family problems gradually lead to other crimes.

“We also plan to invite some couples, who are living happily together after the counselling of the family cell of the city police. They can motivate other couples to resolve small differences between them,” she said.

The Deputy SP said there was also a plan to launch gender sensitisation programme for cops at the police station level.