‘Society cop scheme has been effective’

Pallavi Purkhayastha’s murder has once again raised questions about the safety of women in Mumbai.

Pallavi Purkhayastha’s murder has once again raised questions about the safety of women in Mumbai.

This is the third brutal murder of a woman in her house in the past three months.

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A scheme called society cop, implemented in zone 9 (across eight police stations between Bandra (west) and Oshiwara) since June 2011, has been very effective, say officials. It assigns five housing societies to one constable and makes it mandatory for the official to visit the societies and do registrations of guards, house helps, tenants and drivers.

Pratap Dighavkar, zonal deputy commissioner of police, said: “We have registered 4,014 security guards so far. We have identification details, thumb impression and two references for each guard. It has reduced the crime rate by 50%.”

Commenting upon why the scheme has not been implemented elsewhere, Nisar Tamboli, deputy commissioner of police, said: “The scheme is open for all zonal heads.”