The Coimbatore district is grappling with a severe and systemic shortage of police personnel, operating at a fraction of the strength recommended by international standards for public safety. This deficit is straining the existing force, delaying investigations, and impacting the effectiveness of policing across the region.
Alarming Disparity Against UN Benchmark
For effective policing, the United Nations recommends a ratio of 222 police personnel per 100,000 citizens. Applying this standard to Coimbatore district, which has a population of approximately 20 lakh (2 million), the ideal police strength should be 4,440 personnel. The reality, however, is starkly different. The district currently has only 1,182 law and order police officers, supplemented by another 482 armed reserve personnel. This leaves a massive gap, making it one of the most under-policed major districts in Tamil Nadu as per global norms.
Historic Stations Frozen in Time
Compounding the problem is the archaic sanctioned strength of several police stations, particularly those established during the British colonial era. A prime example is the Annur police station. It was formed around the year 1800 with a sanctioned strength of 18 personnel. Astonishingly, this number remains unchanged to this day, over two centuries later. Several other police stations in the rural parts of the district, also formed by the British administration, suffer from a similar freeze on their official manpower limits.
Even according to the Tamil Nadu government's own categorization of police stations, the district faces a shortage of 400 to 500 police personnel. The state police's failure to address this chronic manpower crisis has left the existing cops reeling under severe stress, which inevitably affects the quality of investigations and other critical work.
Consequences: Stressed Force and Public Inconvenience
The district's 39 police stations, including six all-woman stations and three traffic stations, are spread across six sub-divisions: Mettupalayam, Periyanaickenpalayam, Perur, Karumathampatti, Pollachi, and Valparai. Key stations in high-crime areas like Sulur, Periyanaickenpalayam, Anamalai, and Pollachi are critically understaffed. While they ideally require at least 70 officers for crime-solving, counter-insurgency, and VIP duties, their actual strength hovers around just 50.
An anonymous police officer revealed a flawed practice: "No new recruitment is made whenever a new police station is formed. Instead, personnel from existing stations are relocated." For instance, the Sulur police station, one of the oldest, originally had 70 personnel but lost at least 15 when the Avadi commissionerate was formed. This robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul approach further dilutes the strength of established stations.
A retired police officer emphasized that a station needs a minimum of 50 cops to effectively manage patrols, crime detection, and administrative work. "When the strength decreases, the job becomes hectic, and crime rates may increase," he warned. He also pointed out the misallocation of scarce personnel, noting that there are "more than enough cops at the officers' camp offices," a luxury the district cannot afford.
The public bears the brunt of this shortage. Senior advocate R Kalaiarasu stated that investigations are frequently delayed, forcing citizens to make multiple visits to police stations to get their complaints addressed. The overload of work causes immense stress for the police, which can negatively affect their interactions with the public. Many personnel are also denied leave, depriving them of quality time with their families.
A senior police officer confirmed that despite sending several proposals seeking additional personnel, there has been no positive response from the authorities. The situation is set to worsen with the upcoming Neelambur police station, which will be staffed by relocating 35 personnel from other already strained stations, further eroding visible policing across Coimbatore.
