Manpower is ‘inadequate’ to control crime

Noida must have the commissioner police system, as seen in some of the big and growing cities of the country, if it seeks an absolutely modern police force. It will help improve law and order and develop a humane force, suggested former Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh Prakash Singh.

Noida must have the commissioner police system, as seen in some of the big and growing cities of the country, if it seeks an absolutely modern police force. It will help improve law and order and develop a humane force, suggested former Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh Prakash Singh.

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Speaking at the “First Citizens Conclave” organised by Hindustan Times on Wednesday, Singh also said that augmentation of existing manpower, equipment and resources is the need of the hour.

“In Noida, manpower is hopelessly inadequate. Against international standards of more than 200 cops per one lakh residents, the city has only 100 per lakh,” he added. He said nothing much was expected of just 100 traffic policemen Noida has now.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) A.K. Singh, who was also present at the Conclave, agreed with Singh when it came to lack of manpower. But on the commissioner system proposal, Singh said, “placing a commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in place of an SSP alone will not solve the problem. A R13 crore plan for police modernisation is in the pipeline,” the SSP added.

Singh said that “successive governments have been using the police force to further their agenda and narrow sectarian political interests. This must stop.”

When a participant at the conclave, Ashok Srivastav, asked why incidents of cops being beaten up were on a rise in Noida, Singh said, “beating up policemen or jawans of paramilitary forces was not acceptable. It shows people neither fear nor respect the police. If this continues, even politicians would not be spared.”