Pratapgarh Police Launches Innovative 'Police Express' Mobile Van for Citizen Grievance Redressal
In a significant move to enhance police accessibility and citizen engagement, the Pratapgarh police in Rajasthan launched the Police Express (Suraksha Rath) on Monday. This innovative mobile vehicle is equipped with a state-of-the-art video-conferencing system, designed to allow residents to interact directly with senior police officers without the need to travel to distant police offices.
Bringing Policing to the People
Superintendent of Police B Adithya emphasized that the initiative aims to take policing beyond traditional police stations and into the heart of communities. The van will be stationed at central public locations in villages, such as chowks or other prominent landmarks, he stated. The schedules and locations of the Police Express visits will be announced in advance to ensure maximum participation from the public.
Streamlined Grievance Redressal Process
The process involves beat constables recording grievances on the spot and pushing them through the prescribed hierarchy. Resolutions will be coordinated by station house officers (SHOs), with action-taken reports submitted to circle officers, Adithya explained. For matters requiring district-level intervention, complaints will be forwarded to the SP's office, while inter-departmental issues will be taken up with sub-divisional magistrates or tehsildars.
Complaints received through the video-conferencing system will be reviewed immediately, with on-the-spot directions issued wherever possible. This real-time interaction is expected to reduce delays that often stall grievance redressal in rural areas and ensure that complaints are not abandoned midway.
Addressing Structural Challenges
The initiative directly addresses structural issues such as distance and access constraints. Many police stations and offices of deputy SPs (DSPs) are located across different locations, which people find difficult to travel to frequently. The idea is to reach people who find it difficult to travel from one police office to another. This brings the police closer to citizens, Adithya added.
Beyond Grievance Redressal: Intelligence Gathering and Predictive Policing
Beyond grievance redressal, officers believe the mobile unit could significantly improve intelligence gathering. By offering villagers a fear-free platform to share information on anti-social elements and emerging crime trends, it supports predictive policing and early intervention rather than reactive responses. This approach strengthens accountability by placing senior officers directly in the grievance-handling chain.
The Police Express initiative represents a forward-thinking step in community policing, leveraging technology to bridge gaps and foster trust between law enforcement and the public in Pratapgarh.
