The State government is planning to set up a swift action team (SWAT) to provide security cover to the State capital, Home Minister Thiruvanachoor Radhakrishnan said in the Assembly on Monday.
In a written reply, the Minister said, SWAT will be a commando wing of the Kerala Police, and would exclusively be used for urban security.
Mega city policing would be implemented in Kochi. Operation Sweep was being implemented for ‘health security.’
The Minister said the cities in the State would be linked through surveillance cameras.
The government was ready with the ‘Safe Kochi, Secure Kochi’ project to offer integrated, round-the-clock digital security cover for the commercial capital of the State.
The project would be implemented with the help of government agencies, public sector organisations, and the private sector.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said Operation Sweep would be extended to all cities and implemented with the help of non-governmental organisations, Kudumbasree units, and residents’ associations.
Help desks at police stations would be linked to the soon-to-be-commissioned Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System to help the public get information on cases. Intelligence-driven policing was being implemented in the State. An intelligence database was being prepared for the Intelligence Bureau and Keltron had been asked to develop the software. The police switched to GIS-enabled operations.
100 police stations
In reply to another question, the Home Minister said 100 more police stations, including 50 tribal stations, would be made Janamaithri police stations.
At present, there were 148 Janamaithri police stations. As many as 43 of them had been made women-friendly.
As part of ensuring the safety of women in the State, quick response teams had been formed at all police control rooms. Women help desks had been set up at 300 police stations and these were being manned by women civil police officers.
The service of 56 women police officers had been provided to the Railway Police for ensuring the safety of women commuters on trains.
