Alert issued to vet taxi drivers in Kochi, says DGP

Police patrol strengthened to ensure safety

: Following the assault of a woman on board a taxi in New Delhi recently, the State police are taking steps to ensure safety of women in taxis.

“I have alerted all Superintendents of Police to get in touch with taxi operators to ensure that their drivers are properly vetted,” said Director General of Police K.G. Balasubramanian. He said that while the police could not take steps to ban any type of taxi service, they would take steps to ensure that women could travel safely in taxis at all times.

Kochi city police commissioner K.G. James said that police officers patrolled the streets regularly at night to ensure security of citizens. “We have not had any recent complaints of women being sexually assaulted in taxis, whether they are radio taxis or other such vehicles,” Mr. James said.

An officer of the Tourism Police noted that women travelling alone at night was rare in Kochi, unlike in large cities like Delhi. Areas around Infopark, where several women work in late night shifts, had seen cases of violence against women a few years ago.

Since then, police and Infopark officials had issued directives to ensure that women working late were dropped at home and were accompanied by a male member of the company staff at all times.

“Two Control Room Vehicles have been posted near Infopark throughout the day and night since minor cases of violence were reported there. We have not heard of any incidents since then. Our force also patrols the streets at night,” Mr. James said. Tourist areas such as Fort Kochi and Mattanchery also see several women in public spaces at night. Tourism Police said that cases of violence against tourists taking taxis had not been reported recently.

“But we do advise women tourists to not venture outdoors after 11 p.m.,” said an officer of the Tourism police.