The Kerala Police will form a women’s scuba team for search and rescue operations, given the maze of lagoons, rivers and lakes in Kerala and the increasing number of drowning deaths and accidents, particularly in weekend holiday spots abutting water bodies.
In Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s policy address, the government announced it would modernise the Chief Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory (CCL) with expanded refrigeration facilities, more cold chambers, and the latest toxicology equipment.
The CCL will also collaborate with foreign universities to acquire new skill sets and the latest approaches to forensic science. The police will also introduce digital FIR registration and e-office systems to improve public service delivery.
The government emphasised social policing, with law enforcers and citizens marching in lockstep to uphold the law and ensure peace and welfare. It will enhance law enforcement’s coastal policing capabilities and encrypted radio communication networks.
The police will also emphasise the protection and welfare of women, children, and marginalised sections of society. They will conduct self-defence programmes for women and ensure their robust involvement in the neighbourhood watch scheme.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department will conduct more surprise checks and inspections to seal administrative loopholes and prevent red tape that promotes corruption.
The government has embarked on a programme to digitise 1.4 crore court records to ensure easy public access. It planned to introduce an e-post system for serving notices to respondents.
The Kerala Fire and Rescue Services will have more firewomen and emergency responders on its muster rolls. The service also plans to enhance the Civil Defense Force and provide the unit with district control rooms and hotlines for rapid response to citizen distress calls.
Law enforcement will acquire more vans for forensic teams to inspect crime scenes and collect evidence. It will introduce facial recognition and automatic number plate recognition systems to fast-expanding surveillance camera networks as a force multiplier for law enforcers.
The government also planned a Traffic Safety Command Centre to monitor vehicle and pedestrian movement across the State for better road safety.
Published - January 17, 2025 01:18 pm IST
