Centre asks states to strengthen mechanism to deal with crime against women

The Union Home Ministry has asked all States and Union Territories to strengthen their capacity to deal with cases of crime against women. In a circular issued to top officials, the also referred to the various recommendations issued by the Parliamentary standing committee.

New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry (MHA) has asked all States and Union Territories (UT) to strengthen their capacity to deal with cases of crime against women. In a circular issued to the additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (home), home secretaries and DGPs, the MHA also referred to the various recommendations issued by the Parliamentary standing committee.

The circular issued on Monday also refers to previous advisories issued by the Home Ministry on strengthening the mechanism for dealing with crimes against women, especially SOPs on registration of FIRs, including details of total zero FIRs filed and disposed and training to police personnel on dealing with crimes against women using Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) SOP.

The circular while referring to Parliamentary standing committee recommendations further said that SOPs on registration of FIRs should include guidelines to police to record reasons for the delay in reporting of crimes by the complainants to the police.

"The states and UTs may also widely circulate the BPR&D's handbook on women's safety and security. A handbook for first respondents and investigators in the police to all its personnel, as well as include them in the training module," the circular said.

The MHA has also asked Delhi police to use crime analytics in the prevention of street crimes through crime mapping and identification of hotspots for reinforced action.

"The Parliamentary standing committee has recommended that similar efforts may be taken in other metropolitan cities. In doing so, the crime mapping analytics and productive system (CMAP) and Cognos BI tool deployed on CCTNS may be utilized. These gave been made available to States and UTs by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)," the MHA said.

The MHA has asked States and UTs for continuous monitoring of the implementations of the recommendations at ground level.