Date:23/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/23/stories/2008092353550300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

How the community policing generates friendly fervour

R. Sujatha

— PHOTO: K. PICHUMANI

POLICE CHECKS: ‘Friends of Police’ members assist police personnel during vehicle checks in Anna Nagar on Friday night.

CHENNAI: In getting to know how policing works, citizens have learnt to trust the police and realised the value of the service. The Police Department’s efforts to involve the community in policing over the last decade have borne fruit, said police officials and citizens.

“It brings about transparency in their activities,” says K. Ramadoss, president of Aynavaram Exnora Club about the recent move by the suburban police Commissionerate to involve residents in policing.

The Commissionerate introduced two mobile helplines for residents to report crime- and traffic-related issues.

“The initiative will go a long way in fostering better relations with the police besides getting quick remedy for the victims who file first information reports or complaints,” Mr. Ramadoss said.

Friends of Police, initiated by Prateep V. Philip, Inspector-General, Social Justice, is now a household name in the State. “Even if you are not enrolled you would have heard of the concept,” Dr. Philip points out, “The movement has created awareness at the grassroots.”

A survey of 380 villages across the State found that 68 per cent of villagers knew about the concept even if they had not enrolled in any of the FoP training programmes, he says.

In the mid-1990s, the then city Commissioner R. Nataraj set up boys’ clubs with the aim of keeping slum children out of anti-social activities. Today, there are 78 boys’ clubs for children aged 8 to 18 and 30 girls’ clubs (Arumbu) with an enrolment of about 1,000 adolescents having enrolled.

The students participate in sports and develop their talents through competitions and debates.

The members are provided free job-oriented training and given placements too, says V. Bosgo, project co-ordinator of Arumbu and Aide et Action, a non-government organisation working with children.

As the girls are a more vulnerable group when compared to boys, they are encouraged to participate in debates and talk about issues affecting them, he adds.