11 July,2011 06:52 AM IST | | Sayed Roshan
After a fall in crime rate as cops started doing rounds on bicycles, DCP of Zone IX orders senior inspectors of 8 police stations to go on 4 hrs of patrolling duty daily
After instituting bicycle patrolling for increased vigilance and enhanced health, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Zone IX takes it a step further.
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According to the DCP, if a senior inspector patrols the area on foot, locals will get a better chance to interact with him and share their problems
To decrease the crime rate and increase the cop visibility even more, DCP Pratap Dighavkar has ordered senior police inspectors of the eight police stations under his command to patrol on foot in their areas.
The move comes following MiD DAY's report (Slow-and-steady bicycle cops to curb street crime?) on beat marshals patrolling the area on cycles to subdue street offences.
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The decision has the dual rationale of becoming more approachable to people and knowledgeable about their problems, while keeping the policemen fit.
"I have ordered the senior police inspectors of all the eight police stations in Zone IX to patrol on foot. This will promote mutual understanding and amicability between policemen and the people," said Dighavkar.
The eight police stations in the zone include: Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, Juhu, Oshiwara, Versova, D N Nagar and Amboli.
The guidelines state that the patrolling should be done four hours daily, so local people may interact with cops directly.
According to the DCP, if a senior police inspector patrols his area on foot, locals will get a chance to interact with him and share their problems, while the cop will be in the know about things happening at the grassroots.
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"To meet a senior officer in the police station is difficult for a layman as there are many formalities to be performed; this step will ensure locals can interact freely with the men in uniform," a police official said.
"Usually, citizens don't get enough time to interact with seniors as they are kept busy. This decision will make effect a decrease in the crime rate and improve relations between police and citizens," Dighavkar added.
Less crime
Cops said there was a decrease in crime rate in June, when bicycle patrolling had started, as compared to the month of May. Last month, the crime chart of Zone IX recorded 47 less cases than the previous month. They hope foot patrolling by senior policemen will effect a similar, if not better, improvement.
