NEW DELHI: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, “Pink Booths” manned by all-women staff were started in Central district on Friday.
These booths would provide a safe complaint redressal mechanism, cater to grievances of women and girls and take immediate legal action on their complaints, apart from dealing with other issues. Women beat staff are also being deployed for the first time in the area.
DCP (Central) Shweta Chauhan said, “One such Pink Booth has been started at Karol Bagh police station. This is an attempt to provide a safe complaint redressal mechanism for women and girls in busy marketplaces.”
“Earlier, only male staff were deployed in beats for traditional policing. But now, Central district has started a path-breaking initiative by deploying all women staff in earmarked beat areas of every police station to curb all types of crimes and ensure safety and security of citizens,” added the DCP.
Called “Prashakti Beat Staff”, these women cops have been deployed to control and prevent street crime. Another team of women cops, called “Veera Squad”, would be deployed for intensive patrolling to control crime against women and children and keep an eye on hardcore criminals. This squad would patrol on ERVs, QRTs, motorcycles and scooters.
“The aim of creation of Veera Squad and Prashakti Beat Staff is to bring women officers to the forefront in traditional policing roles of crime prevention and detection, which were earlier considered male bastions. This will see increased participation of women officers at every level of policing. They will play an important role in crime prevention, detection and investigation, including robbery, snatching, pick-pocketing, burglary and organised crime,” said Chauhan.
Women officers were earlier deployed mainly for sensitisation of women and children and for tackling crimes against women. “But now, apart from the above agenda, they will also be deployed in beats to tackle hardcore criminals as well as have increased participation in community policing. Women staff has also been posted in Cyber Cell and Special Staff of Central district,” the DCP said.
