Kolkata: Kolkata Police is roping in personnel from its traffic unit with ‘immediate effect’ to try and increase cop presence at night in strategic locations across the city, especially those frequented by women and children. This development came after the R G Kar incident and is aimed at increasing security at night, one of the prime demands of women protesters who hit the streets on the night of Aug 14.
In a new and revised SOP, which is also partly a rehash of an old one issued a couple of years ago, the brass has asked all night duty officers, including those in traffic to carry arms. This order hints at the cops increasing their role in the law and order duties. In all, the SOP contains 12 orders which need to be followed.
The top brass stated that this SOP ‘will come into effect immediately and it supersedes all the earlier SOPs made in this regard’.
The fresh SOP titled “Revised SOP for night officers and night round officers of traffic police guard” states that officers from each of the 26 traffic guards must be present during duty hours. While one night officer will devote himself to naka checks and stop drink-driving, the other will patrol important institutions like hospitals, govt buildings, high-rises where coaching institutes are located, offices, shopping malls and cinema halls and ‘look into measures for crime prevention and safety measures for women, children etc.’
“If they notice any important incident, they will immediately report to the traffic control room, main control room and the divisional control room. Night officers will take prompt action in respect to the law and order issues or any issues related to crime. This will be true for all traffic officers of all guards,” the SOP states, a copy of which is with TOI. During patrolling, night officers must keep record of every incident using body cameras for safety and security, the SOP further stated.
Last year, Lalbazar had asked OCs and additional OCs to stay the night at the police station, one at a time. “25 percent of force at police stations now has to be mobilized at night and enough women personnel must be present either at the police station or the barrack,” the order stated.
On a normal night, around 25-50 nakas or pickets take place all around the city. Around 300 cops remain on the ground till 1 am after which there are stand down orders and around 500 are kept in reserve. The cops are supposed to work in two separate night shifts – one between midnight to 4 am and another from 2 am to 6 am.