The Pro Bono Club organized a panel discussion on the role and function of women in policing at Mahila Police Stations in Maharashtra, in collaboration with the National Forensics University. The event featured Shri Julio Ribeiro, former DGP of Mumbai, as the chief guest. It began with an introduction and welcome speech by Pro Bono Member Triya Ghosh. Prof. Dr. Anand Raut then addressed the event, outlining its objective: to discuss the role of women policing in the state of Maharashtra.
Dignitaries:
Mediator - Prof. Upma Gautam.
Chief Guest - Shri. Julio Rubero.
Guest Speakers - Adv. Om Prakash Vyas,
Mr. Bhagawan Soni IPS,
Ms. Anita Roy IPS,
Dr. Craig.
OBJECTIVES:
The primary objective of the event, as outlined by Prof. Dr. Anand Raut, was to delve into the nuances of women's roles in policing in Maharashtra and to evaluate the effectiveness and necessity of Mahila Police Stations.
PROCEEDINGS:
The panel discussion was initiated by Prof. Upma Gautam, who effectively set the stage for an engaging dialogue. She emphasized the Pro Bono Club's role in assessing the effectiveness of Mahila Thanas in Maharashtra and addressed the complex social narratives around women in policing. Prof. Gautam underscored the need to redefine the concept of consent in crimes against women, referencing the film "Thappad" to illustrate her point. She also highlighted the evolution of laws related to such crimes and the necessity for a gender-neutral approach in investigative agencies, setting a critical context for the ensuing discussion.
The Need for proper healthcare facilities to Prisoners is one of major challenges to be tackled in the coming days. Due to the spread of communicable diseases it is necessary to give special attention to ensure the lowering of the mortality rate of deaths in prison that resulted due to lack of health assistance at proper time. The Proposal seeks to set up a Prison health clinic at Taloja Jail Mumbai, Maharashtra which would cater to the needs of the prisoners. The Clinic shall consist of well-qualified doctors like physicians, gynaecologists, pediatricians, Psychiatrists etc. In case of emergencies, the doctors could be contacted on telephone via the Jail authorities.
At present, in the case of ill health of Prisoners or injury the prisoner needs to be shifted to hospitals outside the prison which consumes more time and will be expensive. If this health clinic is set up inside the prison, then, the time delay of admitting the patients to the hospital and expenses of the hospital can be reduced considerably. The Prison clinic will provide primary and necessary treatments to the prisoners taking into consideration the needs of Prisoners and it will act as a consultation service to the patients who are ill affected due to communicable diseases etc. The Clinic will have below-mentioned services and specialities
1. Objectives of the said Clinic:
• To provide health care facilities to the Male and Female Prisoners.
• To ensure proper treatment and medicines to those who are suffering from communicable diseases like: HIV, Tuberculosis, Covid-19 etc.
• To provide monthly check up facilities to the prisoners.
• To improve the operational equipment’s and assess the status of health of prisoners.
FIRST SESSION:
After the introduction, Honourable Chief Guest Shri Julio Ribeiro, a retired Indian Police Officer, Bharat Ratna recipient, and former Police Commissioner of Mumbai, began his inputs. He argued against the need for Mahila Thanas (women's police stations) in India, citing the increasing presence of women in senior police roles, such as the former DGP of the Bureau of Research and the Commissioner of Pune Police, and the leadership of a woman at the Hyderabad IPS training center. Ribeiro discussed the Sambhajinagar police station’s case to highlight the recommendation for women's police stations primarily in rural areas, where women may lack the awareness and assertiveness of their urban counterparts. He stressed the impracticality of Mahila Thanas in rural areas and the need to sensitize male officers. He advocated for female Station House Officers in every police station, noting that only five out of ninety-one stations in Mumbai have female SHOs. Ribeiro concluded by questioning the efficacy of separate women police stations, given the evolving role of women in the police force, their historical integration into Mumbai’s police since 1932, and their handling of diverse issues, including marital counseling.
dv. Om Prakash Vyas, a distinguished advocate at the Supreme Court of India and Joint Registrar at the National Human Rights Commission, followed with his insights. He began by reflecting on the establishment of the first women's police station in Kerala in 1973, aimed at creating a safe haven for women to report abuse. Vyas shared statistics on the evolving representation of women in law enforcement, noting the presence of approximately 750 women's police stations across India and significant female representation in places like Mizoram and Mumbai, where there are 1100 women help desks and 91 police stations. He highlighted serious issues such as custodial rapes and the limitations faced by non-police NGO workers in addressing such cases. Vyas recounted distressing incidents of brutality by male police officers, underscoring the need for women police officers and specialized stations to handle sensitive cases effectively. He emphasized the importance of societal education, the empowerment of women in leadership roles within the police force, and the need to address internal challenges such as inappropriate conversations and biases within the force. Vyas affirmed the effectiveness of Women Police Stations and stressed ongoing efforts to empower women in law enforcement for a more just and crime-free society.
SECOND SESSION:
In the second session of the panel discussion, IPS Officer Bhagwan Lal Soni, Director General of Police in Jaipur, Rajasthan, offered his insights on Women Police Stations. He emphasized the significance of their strategic placement and highlighted the effective role of counselling centers, especially in areas with minimal police presence. In Jaipur, he noted, these centers managed by government-appointed counsellors successfully resolved 90% of complaints without needing formal police registration. Officer Soni underscored the importance of Women and Child Desks in every police station, staffed by a female sub-inspector and two lady constables, to address issues before escalating them to the SHO. He also mentioned the success of a 2-week self-defense course and the need for involving more professionals like counselors, psychologists, and lawyers in handling cases involving women. Officer Soni advocated for a proactive rather than reactive approach in women's policing. He suggested identifying and improving security in high-risk areas and stressed the need to enhance safety measures for women officers. He highlighted the goal of increasing the representation of women in the police force to 33%, while also addressing the challenge of assaults on women constables by male officers.
Officer Soni emphasized the importance of gender sensitivity and awareness programs that promote equality from an early age. Concluding his talk, Officer Soni acknowledged the effectiveness of Women Police Stations but stressed that they are not a standalone solution. He recommended the presence of female officers and constables in regular police stations as well, to better understand and assist victims of crimes against women. This approach, he argued, would ensure a more comprehensive and sensitive response to issues related to women's safety and rights. IPS Officer Anita Roy is the SPP(HQ) Of Puducherry. The honourable panelist mentions how the historical background, such as the Nirbhaya case, is crucial in understanding the need for a separate place for women to lodge complaints and report offenses. Ma’am says that even today, police stations are not a welcome space for ladies. the perspective of an ordinary woman must be considered, where you are constantly dependent on the people of the family. It is a poignant fact that these police stations had to come up in the first place.
IPS Officer Anita Roy is the SPP(HQ) Of Puducherry. The honourable panelist mentions how the historical background, such as the Nirbhaya case, is crucial in understanding the need for a separate place for women to lodge complaints and report offenses. Ma’am says that even today, police stations are not a welcome space for ladies. the perspective of an ordinary woman must be considered, where you are constantly dependent on the people of the family. It is a poignant fact that these police stations had to come up in the first place. These police based on the three 3 Mahila police stations in Pondicherry, ma’am puts forth the conclusion that women are less hesitant reporting to Mahila police stations. it is too soon though, to tell if it is a success of failure. Mam believes even if one reported case is a success to the concept. However, the infrastructure is inadequate, they are acutely understaffed, and the accessibility to these stations the distance are all major issues. Ma’am also refers to a previous panel discussion she attended regarding gender sensitization, and talks about how gender sensitization is essential for both male female police officers, and how it helps with capacity building. Speaking from her previous posting in Delhi, ma’am talks about how women prefer desk jobs over frontline jobs in police. Women officers specifically from regions such as Haryana, and Punjab, require sensitization as they bring in the prejudices from the environment, they grew up in. Ma’am talks about an incident she witnessed regarding this, when a young group of women officers broke down about the issues they faced at home, and since then they tried to bring them into more mainstream roles, even though it took a lot of time. Sensitization is to unravel a lot of deep-rooted thought processes of officers.
She also addresses the issue of false reporting. According to ma’am, it is better to have some false cases reported than to have victims suffering in silence. False reporting at least indicates that women can come to report freely about what happened. When even highly educated women aren’t reporting cybercrime due to the fear of being judged or not believed. The societal pressure and stigma are so bad that women don’t even report serious crimes. Confidence must be instilled to make women feel comfortable enough to report crimes. The police expertise is to attempt counselling ensure a safe space and ensure legal aid is provided to victims. Ma’am concludes by suggesting that partnerships with NGOs and other personnel can help spread awareness and support women in reporting offences. Dr. Craig Paterson, Head of Global Academic Partnerships and Professor of Law and Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University, offered a global perspective on policing in the concluding panel discussion. He began by drawing parallels between policing in the global north and the initiatives in India, noting the absence of Women Police Stations in the UK but acknowledging similar challenges. Despite cultural differences, the UK's police force still grapples with an old and predominantly male system, underscoring the necessity for a more diverse and representative force. Women constitute about one-third of the UK police force, signifying progress, yet leadership roles still see a stark gender disparity, with only 3% of top positions held by women. Dr. Paterson emphasized the need for increased female participation in policing, particularly for sensitive crimes like domestic violence and sexual harassment. He advocated for a critical analysis of the relationship between women officers and citizens in metropolitan areas, stressing the importance of evaluating the conviction rate and overall efficacy of policing. He also highlighted the coordination between the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and the police in addressing issues like drug trafficking and sexual harassment, citing compulsory FIR registration and accessible senior hierarchy for complainants as vital steps. In his conclusion, Dr. Paterson identified major challenges, such as resource constraints due to international issues, delays in judicial proceedings, and the impact of communal divides on representation. Despite improvements, he described these issues as part of a broader crisis in policing. The subsequent question-and-answer session delved into various topics, including the socio-economic backgrounds of officers and their impact, challenges faced by female officers, women trafficking issues, and the influence of politicians in establishing Mahila Police Stations. The panel discussion was then concluded with a vote of Thanks from Prof. Dr. Salunke Sir, and gratitude for all the panellists and the moderator
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