To ensure speedy investigation, the Delhi Police Commissioner has instructed senior officers to implement a pilot project at 30 stations in the city to bifurcate investigation duties from that of law and order.
Top cop Amulya Patnaik held a meeting with the officers on September 15 and instructed them to roll-out the project in two stations in each of the 14 police districts by September 25.
“The Deputy Commissioners of Police [DCP] have been asked to identify police stations and brief the staff about it [the project]. The selected stations will include both — police stations with law and order as priority, and the ones where registration of cases is high,” said Mr. Patnaik.
Review after 2 months
Stating that the project will be reviewed after two months, he said glitches will be identified and rectified before it is implemented in all police stations across the city. “It will ensure professional and time-bound investigations. The bifurcation will help in early clearance of pending cases and improvement in the quality of investigation. It will also improve conviction. Law and order can also be brought to focus,” he added.
Under the project, constables who are graduates will be identified and trained to assist in investigations. This will reduce the workload on Assistant Sub-Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors, who will be able to focus on investigating serious crimes.
Mr. Patnaik said similar projects have been implemented in other States and that the Delhi Police is trying to find out the results. In Delhi, the frequency of law and order arrangement is higher compared to other States.
“We are planning it in a way to ensure that the law and order part is taken care of while the investigation part does not suffer either. Diversion of people for investigation duties, and law and order duties will be checked. In case of exigencies, only DCPs and Joint Commissioners of Police concerned will give clearance [for switching between the two sets of duties],” he said.
The DCPs have been asked to personally monitor the project in their districts.
