RAMANATHAPURAM
In a bid to reduce the gap between the police and the public, the district police have launched ‘Policing at your doorstep’, a new system aimed at taking police services to the doorstep of the people.
The system was formally launched on Tuesday with the Deputy Superintendents of Police in the seven sub-divisions of the district taking out awareness rallies and distributing pamphlets to enlighten the public on their rights and privileges and the necessity for police intervention.
“We have decided to launch awareness campaigns on road safety, ill-effects of drugs and tobacco, usury, domestic violence, dowry harassment and sexual abuse of women and children under the system,” Superintendent of Police Omprakash Meena told reporters.
When the police took action against violators of traffic rules and those who did not wear helmets and seat belts, the people should realise that the action was taken for the sake of their safety, the SP said.
Police personnel, headed by the DSPs, would create awareness on the ill-effects of drugs and tobacco products by visiting schools and colleges and addressing the public in select places. He would also address the students and the public at regular intervals, the SP said.
Mr. Meena said women police personnel would have informal interactions with women and children after visiting their places and enlighten them on their rights. This would give confidence to women, who faced domestic violence, dowry harassment and other problems, and children, who were subjected to sexual abuse, to approach the police.
The awareness campaigns on usury would focus on legal rights of the victims, he said. A special camp would be held at the SP’s office here on Friday, when the affected people could petition him, he said.