The city will have a special women’s crime branch.
The state home department has issued a government resolution and has ordered the police to set up the branch immediately, in light of the rising cases of crime against women.
The first-of-its-kind crime detection unit for women will be manned entirely by women. Headed by an officer not below the rank of deputy commissioner, the branch will have two units.
While one will investigate rapes, kidnappings, teasing women or outraging their modesty, the other will look into dowry harassment and cases of domestic violence. Both units will have senior inspectors reporting to the DCP. And the crime branch will report to the joint commissioner (crime).
“We will try to appoint all woman officers in the two units... Right from the DCP to the other staff,” Himanshu Roy, JCP (crime), said. “We are in the process of setting up the units and identifying officers to be posted at the units. It will be functional at the earliest.”
The government said in its GR that there is a need for in-depth and scientific investigations and detection of crimes against women, which will ensure successful conviction in courts. The GR (a copy of which is with the DNA) also emphasises the need to properly train officers in investigation, detection and forensics.
The branch will have to ensure the safety and security of women in the city. The staff strength approved is 83, including the DCP. All officers will be taken from the existing staff of the Mumbai police. A portion of the police modernisation fund will be used to set up the branch.
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