24 september 2024 : The Punjab Police have initiated a project aimed at internal reforms in collaboration with the Indian Police Foundation (IPF).
This initiative focuses on enhancing the registration process for complaints and FIRs, improving police response, behavior, and conduct, reducing harassment, and fostering citizen services and community engagement.
The project was officially launched by Gurpreet Kaur Deo, Special Director General of Police for the Community Affairs Division, under the guidance of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav at the Punjab Police Officers’ Institute (PPOI) in Chandigarh. She was joined by Dr. Ish Kumar (Retd), vice-president of the IPF and project director, along with DIG Roopnagar and nodal officer for the project, Nilambri Jagdale, and project supervisor Gursharan Singh Sandhu (Retd).
Deo emphasized the Punjab Police’s commitment to embracing internal reforms to enhance service delivery for residents. She noted that Punjab was the first state to introduce the Saanjh project, which allows residents to access basic services, such as police verification and reporting lost items, online without visiting a police station. Residents can also visit Saanjh Kendras, designed to be user-friendly.
Ish Kumar praised the Saanjh project as a comprehensive solution for public grievances and announced intentions to replicate it in other states. He explained that the 10-month research program would include interviews, group discussions, and questionnaires targeting complainants, service seekers, victims, witnesses, and civil society members to identify areas for improvement and recommend reforms.
Key Focus Areas:
Police Training: Enhance training programs to develop professional competence within the force.
Accessibility & Response: Improve public access to services and complaint response, including handling helpline calls efficiently.
Quality of Investigation: Enhance interrogation methods, accurate statement recording, and scientific evidence collection while adhering to updated arrest laws and reducing illegal detentions and harassment, especially of vulnerable groups like women and the elderly.
Citizen Services: Streamline services such as permissions, NOCs, licenses, and police verifications, enhancing transparency and keeping citizens informed.
Work Environment: Create a positive atmosphere in police stations to boost morale through recognition and support.
Community Policing: Encourage initiatives to foster trust and cooperation between police and residents, addressing community concerns and ensuring public safety.
Police Behavior: Ensure respectful treatment of complainants and witnesses, improve accessibility for the public, assist victims, and protect witnesses.