Need for speed: SUVs to give Delhi cops an upper hand

NEW DELHI: With the aim of having the upper hand over criminals during high-speed pursuits, Delhi Police has procured 30 Mahindra Scorpio SUVs that will be assigned to different units dealing directly with organised crime. While six vehicles have already arrived, 24 more are on the way, sources say.
These vehicles will have customised interiors with space for stretchers, water jugs, folding seats and phablet stands. Phablets will be used for accessing various databases while on the move.

“They will be converted into ‘police control room-multi-purpose vehicles (PCR-MPVs)’ at our workshop in Old Police Lines in north Delhi by an experienced firm so that they can have equipment that the policemen will need while they are on the move,” a senior officer said.
The vehicles will have ‘police’ painted on the sides with graphics and other police-related emblems and stickers for visibility. ‘Delhi Police’ will be painted at the front while PCR will be written at the rear. There will be reflectors, a fibre box for wireless battery and three fans for policemen as well, officials said. The vehicles will be fitted with rear and front hooks to tow away heavy equipment and barricades as well.
Sources privy to the project said that these vehicles are likely to be assigned to Special Cell, Crime Branch and border patrol units and will be used during raids as well as confrontational situations. As of now, cops either use private vehicles on hire or make do with existing gypsies, and criminals manage to escape many times.
The police brass is planning to station these vehicles in areas like Bawana, Kanjhawala, Mangolpuri, Najafgarh, Ghazipur, Mayur Vihar, Vasant Kunj and adjoining places from where access to Haryana or UP is easy. Criminals from other states often venture into Delhi to commit crimes from these areas. When confronted, they drive dangerously and flee by opening fire at the police teams.
The move is seen as being in sync with Maruti stopping production of its gypsies in December last year. Delhi Police still uses a large number of these vehicles and their maintenance and parts procurement is an issue, police say.