205 women beat marshals will now patrol city streets
MUMBAI: Now, women beat marshals will add more teeth to the Mumbai police’s fight against crime
A 205-member women’s squad was inaugurated by state home minister RR Patil and actor Rani Mukherjee on Wednesday.
With the aim of reducing crimes against women, children and senior citizens, the beat marshals will be posted at various police stations and will also help patrol the streets.
“Senior citizens and women’s safety has always been our priority and with the formation of the new women beat marshal squads, street crimes will certainly come down. This initiative is the first of its kind in the country,” said Patil.
The home minister said 4,500 women police personnel have been recruited in the force and the state intends to have at least 20,000 women in the next four years.
Although Patil promised to provide the squad with all the latest gadgets, the motorcycles given to the beat marshals did not even have self-starters. The rickety old bikes were given a fresh coat of colour for the occasion.
The women constables, however, have undergone special training in the implementation of law, apart from unarmed combat techniques.
“The women have also attended communication skills programme at Welingkar Institute and they have been trained in martial arts. They will carry a pistol with them. The women have been trained to attend to distressed persons,” said Shalini Sharma, women officer, extradition cell.
The women squad will henceforth answer and respond to calls made on the senior citizen and women’s helpline (103).
“Currently there are 747 mobile vans and 944 male beat marshals in the city. With the newly incorporated 205 trained women police, beat policing will improve in the city,” said police commissioner Rakesh Maria.
However, for their own safety the beat constables will be on the ground only from 8am to 8pm.