Cracking the whip on men sexually harassing women at public places by passing lewd comments or making indecent gestures, the city police on Friday formed ‘SHE’ teams to catch such persons.
Hundred such teams, each comprising policewomen and policemen carrying secret video cameras, will look out for men harassing the fairer sex at bus-stops, colleges, junctions, said Hyderabad Police Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy at a press conference.
Clad in plainclothes, members of ‘SHE’ teams would mix with the general public and lay in wait searching for men stalking or pestering women. “First they will record acts of men troubling women.
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Two members would catch the person while the other three would stand in support in case of emergency,” the Commissioner said.
The accused would be taken to the Central Crime Station (CCS) where they would be counselled in the presence of their family members after being shown video footage of their objectionable behaviour. Mr. Reddy said 100 ‘hotspots’ -- places such as bus stops, crowded junctions and transit points where women are harassed -- in the city were identified by the police.
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“Come forward and lodge complaints about sexual harassment at public places by dialling 100,” Additional Commissioner of Crimes, Swati Lakra, appealed to women.
Statistics had indicated that nearly 30 per cent of men indulging in sexual harassment were middle-aged. Contact numbers of the accused persons and their family members would be entered in the police database so that they could be summoned immediately if they repeatedly involve in such acts. Separate records would be maintained for them.
The city police is preparing the draft of a special act to check sexual harassment at public places by incorporating provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Ragging Act and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Sexual Harassment Act. The draft would be sent to the government for consideration.