Delhi Commission for Women for high-level panel, more cops to tackle crimes against women

NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women's chairperson Swati Maliwal has written a letter to the Union home secretary and recommended various measures for improvement in the functioning of Delhi Police.
The commission has recommended setting up of a high-level committee in the home ministry, increasing human resources, modernising Delhi Police and providing them state-of-the-art infrastructure.
The commission has recommended setting up a high-level committee under the chairpersonship of union home minister, which should include lieutenant governor, chief minister, union home secretary, police commissioner and DCW chairperson with the mandate to meet once a month and create a coordinated strategy for tackling crimes against women in the capital.
It has also recommended taking urgent steps to increase the accountability of Delhi Police and sensitising its officers on issues concerning crimes against women.
The commission has further recommended increasing the strength of women police staff who form a measly nine per cent of the police force.
"Through media reports, it has been learnt that in the Kanjhawala case, eyewitnesses made several calls to the emergency helpline number of Delhi Police, but allegedly no PCR van reached the spot for several hours. The DCW chief has termed it unacceptable and has recommended that the PCR unit of Delhi Police should be strengthened so that it is equipped to deal with emergency situations," said the commission.
Maliwal alleged, "The law and order situation in Delhi is critical as it's becoming increasingly unsafe for women and girls. The commission has time and again raised the issue of improvement in the functioning of the police force by taking various measures, but no concrete steps have been taken in this direction."