XIC students conducted a survey at seven South Mumbai-based police stations, thereby revealing the startling conditions in which the cops have to work
Police Reforms Watch, an organisation that keeps stock of policing and the condition of policemen in the city, recently made a short presentation about police reforms and campaigning for better policing at Xavier’s Institute of Communication (XIC), about a month ago. As a follow-up project, XIC students conducted a survey by visiting seven police stations in South Mumbai.
The findings
Forty-five students split into groups of seven, selected seven police stations to understand the workings of the station, its police officers and their working conditions, especially the women staff and their grievances.
The students found out that the Malabar Hill police station is a well-maintained one, and even has a gymnasium in its premises. Apart from this, every Saturday, meetings are conducted wherein complaints are addressed by the senior police officials. The officers even shared that in their area, youth-related crimes such as debit card robbery and cyber crimes, have increased.
When it came to the Cuffe Parade police station, students had to educate them about the six Supreme Court Directives on Police Reforms and the new Maharashtra Police Amendment and Continuance Act (2014). A lot of the junior-level officers were not aware of the same.
Unfortunate discoveries
An awfully sad and shocking fact came to light when the students spoke to women officers of the Tardeo police station. An officer candidly stated that if they aren’t dressed in their khaki uniforms, they don’t feel safe, presumably due to lack of physical training. They said that if they are dressed in civilian clothes, they are subjected to unwanted comments just like any other woman in the city. So for them, their uniform is their shield and security.
The most common problem that emerged as a pattern in all seven police stations is that the constables are not given enough training, whereas their seniors receive various trainings, briefs and workshops from time to time. The most vital finding made by the students—and something that needs to addressed soon—is that the officers don’t know where and to whom should they present their grievances. There is no machinery in place whereby they can be counselled or any place where they can go to get their work-related issues addressed. They want a panel independent of the police structure to be set up for the same.
What cops want?
- Skill development training
- Periodic workshops and training
- Refresher courses for new and amended laws
- Cooperation of citizens and support from media
- More leaves and reasonable working hours
- Better accommodation from the State
- Redressal panel for their grievances
Name of police station |
No. of women police officers |
No. of Women constables |
Separate changing room facilities
|
| Malabar Hill |
2 |
7 |
YES |
|
Cuffe Parade |
2 |
25 |
YES |
|
| Colaba |
2 |
30 |
YES |
|
| Lokmanya Tilak |
2 |
22 |
NO |
Azad Maidan |
2 |
15 |
YES |
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 "Voicing the needs of Mumbai police")
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