Directing that all complaints of crime against women be registered verbatim, a meeting of the Security Commission for Delhi on Thursday instructed the Delhi Police to show zero tolerance towards crime against women and accord highest importance to women safety.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna at Raj Niwas was attended among others by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Leader of Opposition in Assembly V.K. Malhotra and Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar.
The Lieutenant-Governor said directions have been issued to all the police personnel to show respect towards women.
At the meeting, it was also stated that exclusive round-the-clock telephone lines have been installed at ‘women helpdesks’ in all the police stations.
The meeting also decided that “FIR on all crime against women will be recorded and registered as it is stated by the complainant’’. Further, the police personnel have been told to show respect towards women complainants while registering their complaints.
Women will also be able to lodge their complaints directly with Special Commissioner of Police Sudhir Yadav. It was also announced that on the last Friday of every month, women groups will get to meet the Special Commissioner at the Police Headquarters to take forward all suggestions on crime against women. Besides, an “Open House” would also be convened at the L-G’s office on this subject.
It was also conveyed that all drivers/conductors/cleaners of public vehicles will be checked, verified and cleared by the police.
All authorised drivers of public service vehicles would now be required to have photo identity cards in the form of Public Service Vehicle badges. Copies of such badges would also have to be displayed on the front wind screens of the vehicles as well as in the passenger seating area.
For the housing of women in distress, the meeting decided that in the interim, some vacant properties and flats with the Delhi Development Authority would be used by the non government organisations for helping in their stay.
As it was pointed out before it that 11,000 men were fined for travelling in Metro ladies coach during 2012, the meeting also appealed to all citizens to show good behaviour and comply with the law.
In the wake of the public outrage following the December 16 gang-rape incident, the Delhi Police said 255 routes have been identified for more patrolling at night. It said the identification of these routes was done on the request from various women and their families.
Similarly, 1,600 dark places have been identified where, the meeting said, street lights should be installed by the concerned civic agencies to prevent crime.
The meeting also stressed the need for promoting moral science/value education in schools and gender sensitisation; strengthening the de-addiction centres and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts to check crime on street; and for getting a feedback from the public on the performance of the Delhi Police.
It was also stated that names of women volunteers will be given for police accreditation and these volunteers will go around and monitor action in all cases of crime against women and help the victims.
