Thiruvananthapuram: Home minister Ramesh Chennithala said “My Police Station”, the police reform programme to be launched on Aug 15, would focus on transforming police stations into citizen-friendly institutions that uphold individual dignity, promote professional practices and make greater use of technology.He said police stations should be the focal point of police reforms as they were often the first point of contact for citizens facing serious problems. The initiative aims to improve public satisfaction by making policing more responsive, accessible and efficient.People mainly approach police stations to file complaints, report crimes and obtain services such as general diary abstracts, passport verification and police clearance certificates. The programme will also focus on improving services for women, children, senior citizens and members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.Ramesh said eliminating custodial violence would be another key priority. Custodial torture, deaths, illegal detention and abusive behaviour undermine the achievements of police, he said, adding that “third-degree methods” have no place in a democratic society and criminal investigations must rely on professional and scientific methods.A detailed action plan has been prepared, and all police station personnel will undergo training in the new approach. Supervisory officers from circle inspectors upwards will receive specialised training to improve their interaction with subordinate staff, address workplace concerns and ease unnecessary pressure.The minister also stressed the need for officers to keep pace with advances in criminal investigation and help personnel acquire new skills. Citizen feedback will be a key component of the programme, with Range DIGs using digital platforms to gather responses from the public and identify areas requiring improvement.The 20-year-old Janamaithri Suraksha Project will also be modernised and integrated with the initiative to strengthen community policing and build social resistance to narcotic drugs.The programme will cover all 555 police stations in the state, the minister said, expressing confidence that it would strengthen public trust and serve as a model for police reform.
