The Union Cabinet on Friday cleared 33 per cent reservation for women in the direct recruitment for non-gazetted posts of constables to sub-inspectors in the police forces of all Union Territories, including Delhi.
The decision to recruit more policewomen is expected to instil confidence among women, especially in Delhi where crime against women is very high and often the victims are afraid to approach the police as they may have to deal with male police officers.
The decision has also been taken in the light of amendments brought about in the Criminal Procedure Code in the wake of the 2012 gang-rape case in Delhi which requires that reports of crimes against women as well as their statements must be collected by women officers only.
The Delhi Police currently has about 7,000 women police officers, which form merely 8 per cent of its total strength. “About 20,000 more women will have to be recruited,” said the official.
Describing it as an important step towards the right direction of community policing, retired senior IPS officer Kiran Bedi told The Hindu : “It was absolutely needed to fill the vacuum in policing.”
