Strict guidelines for policemen while filing sexual offence cases

Giving top priority to issues concerning women, the Mumbai police have joined hands with Rahat, an NGO, to sensitise policemen towards crimes against women and children.

Giving top priority to issues concerning women, the Mumbai police have joined hands with Rahat, an NGO, to sensitise policemen towards crimes against women and children.

HT Image

After the collaboration, the police commissioner issued a circular to all 93 police stations in Mumbai with guidelines on how to deal with sexual offences against women and children.

Rahat, a collaboration between Women and Child Development and Majlis Legal Centre, provides socio-legal support to victims of sexual assault.

“One of our initiatives was to draft guidelines for police while recording and investigating cases of sexual assault,” said Persis Sidhva, programme manager, Rahat.

The circular clearly states that sexual crimes against a person under 18 years of age should be strictly registered under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and those against adults under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The circular, dated August 12, 2013, issues guidelines for policemen while registering an FIR, facilitating medical aid to a sexual offence victim, recording the victim’s statement and facilitating shelter home services to the victim if they are in need of care and protection.

Sadanand Date, joint commissioner of police (law and order), confirmed the initiative, saying, “I will speak about it at length once the project is complete.”