Security arrangements in banks to be beefed up

Security arrangements in the banks in the district would be beefed up to ensure safer cash transactions.

This was following some reported incidents of burglary attempts and cases of snatching cash away from people soon after the withdrawal both at the counter and on the parking lot.

The District Level Security Committee (DLSC) constituted by Reserve Bank of India and comprising different stakeholders involved in the banking transactions, would soon be compiling the branch-wise data on existing security facilities offered in banks so as to draw an action plan to fill the critical gaps.

Presently, 125 branches of nationalised banks, 56 branches of private sector banks, two branches of regional rural bank, 15 branches of District Co-operative banks, two government financial institutions (SIDBI and TIIC), and 181 Primary Agriculture Co-operative Societies function in the district.Superintendent of Police A Arun told The Hindu that instructions had been given to the banks to install closed circuit television system with security cameras fixed to monitor both the banking floor as well as the vehicle parking area, at all their branches.

The industrialists would be issued circular asking them to furnish details of the drivers who were engaged in transporting cash within the district at the police stations concerned.

“This will help the police to arrange patrols in the locality in advance,” Mr Arun said.

Another major suggestion put forward by the DLSC to the banks was the need to periodically train the security personnel deployed in banks and ATMs on use of arms.

“We will ask the banks to often change the duty hours of security personnel frequently to avoid familiarity,” Mr Arun said.