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News: On March 8, International Women’s Day, a Commissioner of Police in Tamil Nadu appointed women police officers as “heads” of police stations for a day. Also, many “all-woman police stations” have been created by the politicians over the years.
What are the issues with such measures?
Such moves are gestures for glory, admiration and, of course, votes etc. without any substance.
It is difficult for a woman victim to reach a distant “all-woman police station” to seek redressal when the nearest one was just next door.
Most police leaders feel that creating all-woman stations is unjust to both male and female officers. It gives an impression that men in uniform are uncaring, inconsiderate and insensitive towards the cause of woman.
It implies that the women officers are capable of dealing with only crimes against women.
Furthermore, it compartmentalises women officers rather than give them the independence of work” because women officers are interested in all kinds of police work. They are not interested just in women-related matters.
Inadequate women in the police force
As per the Bureau of Police Research and Development, India has only around 10% women in the police.
– There are around 25% women in the Bihar police, 19% in the Himachal Pradesh police force, 18% in Tamil Nadu police force, 12% in Delhi, around 18% in Chandigarh and Ladakh and 3% in Jammu and Kashmir Police Force.
What are the measures to address women related crimes in India?
Instead of changing the gender profile of personnel in a police station, which can lead to disruption in the functioning of the police stations, other measures are needed to address the situation.
– Special recruitment drives should be conducted for females. Their number should be brought up to the level of the pledged percentage, i.e., most police forces in states and Union territories have 30% or above reservations for women. It will ensure that each police station in the country has women police personnel in adequate numbers to attend to all citizens, including women victims and complainants.
– There is a need for sensitisation of the political and police leadership about this dismal failure related to women related crimes.
– The officers have to be trained well in all police subjects and deputed in both urban and rural police stations.
– Discouraging posting of women police personnel in computer sections, counselling cells, reception desks, etc
– The infrastructure like toilets and changing rooms for women in police stations should be adequately created.
– Training in gender, respect to women and male cooperating with female colleagues must be an integral part of basic police training. These topics also deserve to be emphasised during in-service workshops.
– The women police personnel should be given leadership training and experience-sharing workshops to sharpen their professional skills.
Source: The post is based on an article “Stop applauding ‘all-woman police stations’” published in the Indian Express on 23rd Mar 22
