Kolkata: In an effort to take policing beyond the confines of police stations and make every resident a stakeholder in crime prevention, the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate has launched “Nijer Thana Nijer Bari” (Your Police Station, Your Home), an intensive community policing initiative that is taking police officers into narrow lanes, housing complexes and neighbourhood community halls to spread awareness on cyber fraud, women’s safety and child protection.Unlike conventional awareness campaigns held at large venues, the initiative focuses on micro-level interactions, with officers from local police stations conducting small neighbourhood meetings to reach every section of society.“The idea is to make policing more accessible while equipping residents with the knowledge to identify and prevent emerging crimes, particularly cyber fraud,” said a senior officer of Bidhannagar City Police.As part of this initiative, cops are educating residents about a range of online scams, including fake customer care frauds, OTP and PIN theft, social media scams, sextortion and the increasingly reported “digital arrest” frauds. The sessions also cover women’s safety, senior citizens’ security, child protection, prevention of child marriage and child abuse, besides encouraging tenant verification and prompt reporting of suspicious activities.“The objective is to strengthen the bond between the police and the community. We want people to see the police station as an extension of their home, where they can freely approach officers with their concerns. Preventing crime begins with awareness, and these neighbourhood-level interactions help us directly reach vulnerable sections of society,” a senior Bidhannagar Police officer said.Over the past week, police stations across the commissionerate have organised a series of awareness programmes under the initiative.On Monday, Narayanpur police organised a cyber security, child safety and women’s safety awareness programme at Santibon Community Hall in Ward 4. ACP (New Town Division) Utsha Sreemani led a team of officers from Narayanpur police station that addressed residents and students on cyber security and public safety. Besides explaining common cyber frauds, officers shared emergency helpline numbers and urged participants to spread awareness among their families and neighbours.On Sunday evening, Baguiati police conducted similar sessions in wards 19, 25, 8 and 9, focusing on women’s safety, tenant verification and community participation in crime prevention.Eco Park and Lake Town police stations also held awareness programmes over the weekend. At Hatiara under Eco Park police station, residents were sensitised on tenant verification, prevention of child trafficking and elopement, anti-drug awareness and cyber fraud prevention. At Club Town Greens near Jessore Road, Lake Town police organised a cyber crime awareness programme along with sessions on crimes against women and children.Residents who attended the sessions welcomed the initiative, saying the informal interactions made it easier to discuss concerns directly with police officers. “Many people, especially senior citizens, are still unaware of how sophisticated cyber frauds have become. These meetings are practical because officers explain real-life scams and tell us exactly what to do if we receive suspicious calls or messages,” said Chaitali Sengupta, a resident of Baguiati who attended one of the awareness programmes.
