The concept of community policing has been gaining ground in Dwarka for the past few months. Last night, Rajendra Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Dwarka, urged residents to come forward and assist them in patrolling the sub-city at night.
Addressing residents on a WhatsApp group, Singh wrote, “Under the ‘Self Policing Scheme’, our beat officers will undertake night patrolling in collaboration with the guards of residential societies. This scheme has been started as a pilot project in Sector 9 and Sector 22, and will soon be extended to other sectors. The managing committee members of societies in the two sectors are requested to cooperate and allocate one guard every night who can patrol the area, along with our beat constable.”
RWAs, managements of residential societies, social organisations and private security guards have now started preparing crime-related data pertaining to their specific localities. These details will be shared with the local police.
The residents have been forthcoming with their cooperation.
Pankaj Sharma, a resident of Munirka Apartments, Sector 9, who has been surveying the parks of his neighbourhood, along with security guards, has sent his observations to the ACP. He said, “My first attempt at surveillance has been satisfactory. If I continue my vigil in the surrounding areas, I will be able to give more comprehensive and concrete feedback. I have identified several dark spots and stretches that are severely crime-prone and need police attention.”
Advocate KS Bhati, president of Federation of RWAs of Sector 9, said, “The concept is revolutionary and is required in a country like ours, in which the police force is woefully inadequate.”
Talking to City Spidey about the modus operandi, Singh said, “Every night, we will employ the services of guards and residents from different societies. For instance, in a sector with, say, 20 societies, we will employ residents and guards from five societies every night. This way, these five societies will get their second turn after every four days. A roster shall be maintained.”
