Categorize stations to increase police strength, say officials

Coimbatore: Senior police officials from the west zone on Tuesday requested the fifth state police commission to take steps to implement the third police commission’s recommendations to allot more police personnel based on the three categories of police stations - heavy, medium and light.The request was made at the zonal conference of the fifth police commission for the collectors and police officers of the western region at the city police commissionerate here on the day. Retired justice of Madras high court C T Selvam presided over the meeting.The third police commission had recommended the state government to categorize police stations across the state into heavy, medium and light with a police strength of 80, 50 and 30, respectively. However, the system was implemented only in five districts, including Tirupur, Theni and Villupuram.“This system will help increase police strength and address 80% of the problems in the department. So, the third police commission’s recommendations should be implemented across the state,” a police officer said.Pointing out that the village administrative officers and village assistants used to tip police about various issues/crimes at least a decade ago, members of the police commission said the rapport with them had drastically come down.“Police officials should maintain a very good rapport with the village administrative officers and village assistants. It will help them gather advanced information,” they said.The commission also discussed the ways to reduce stress among cops.Members of the fifth police commission - ADGP Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, retired IAS officer K Allaudin and retired DGP Dr K Radhakrishnan - were present at the event that saw participation of the collectors and top police officers from the eight districts in the west zone.