'Society cop' idea works, 89 held in just a month

The zone 9 police (from Bandra west to Andheri west) arrested 89 persons booked in 38 cases in the month of July. From January to June however, they arrested only 32, in 18 cases of drug consumption.

The zone 9 police (from Bandra west to Andheri west) arrested 89 persons booked in 38 cases in the month of July. From January to June however, they arrested only 32, in 18 cases of drug consumption. The Society Cop exercise started by Pratap Dighavkar, deputy commissioner of police (zone 9), appears to be paying rich dividends - reducing both petty crime and helping crack down on drug abusers.

HT Image

The 'society cop' exercise was started to curb robberies, house break-in thefts and other thefts in the area. Dighavkar had allotted two constables each to about eight societies from each police station, who would be held responsible for anything that went wrong there. Soon, the police arrested several drug consumers who also engaged in petty crimes.

"Drug addicts in the area are the main cause for any kind of menace. Many of these have also conducted robberies and house break-in thefts when in desperate need of money," said Dighavkar.

The police have been rounding up drug consumers, especially the ones who dwell on the streets, and then send them for medical examination. Only after the doctor gives a report in which the person has tested positive for drug consumption does the police books him under the NDPS Act.

"We are not only concentrating on arresting these people but also on helping them lead a normal life. Quite a few of these arrested persons were later sent to de-addiction centres. They too are human beings after all," said Dighavkar.