NATURE OF INTERFACE BETWEEN COMMUNITY AND POLICE

The community requires various types of police service which can be broadly divided into the following two categories:-

1. Emergency service.

2. Non-emergency service.

Emergency service is required are generally when crimes have occurred or there is urgent need of the police to intervene for preventing breach of peace or social disorder. Generally telephone calls are made to the police control room or directly to the concerned police station and in Chandigarh the response time to telephone calls made to 100 number is 3 to 5 minutes. The police control room has well equipped fleet of 65 vehicles including 30 gypsies and 35 motorcycles which are strategically pre-positioned at various locations in the city. Whenever a 'spot' is reported i.e. there is a call for police service, the PCR operator flashes wireless message to the nearest PCR vehicle which reaches at the place of occurrence with the stipulated time. Depending upon the situation some times several PCR vehicles are pressed into service. At the same time the PCR informs the concerned police stations and directs them to send the reporting officer who is an officer of the rank of assistant sub-inspector / sub-inspector available in the police station round the clock for responding to the emergencies. The Chandigarh PCR handles about 70,000 spots in an year.

 

Non-emergency interaction of the citizens with the police involves various interactions which could be passport verifications, redressal of grievances, verifications of arms license, service verifications, marriage verifications, license verifications, permissions for use of loud speakers, NOC for crackers licenses etc. This non-emergency service occurs at two levels :-

1. At police station level.

2. At police headquarter level.

All the requests for provision of non-emergency services as detailed above are received for process at police headquarters and in all cases reports are sought from the concerned police stations. After reports of concerned police station are received the services are provided to the concerned citizens. Broad categorization of the nature of interface could be as under:-

 

  • Emergency interface would include responses to calls for police service.

  • Registration of FIRs and investigation of crimes also falls under the emergency interface. It is handled at police station level and also at police headquarters.

  • Demand for services This would include:-

  • Passport verifications

  • Issues of police clearance certificate (PCC).

  • Passport enquires.

  • Redressal of complaint / grievances.

  • NOC for stolen vehicles.

  • Service verification.

  • Arms license verification.

  • NOC for crackers license.

  • Permission for dharnas / rallies / possessions etc.

  • Permission for use of loud speakers.

  • Marriage verifications.

  • Verification of liquor license etc.

  • Registration of foreigners, visa extension, exits permits.

  • Information about the foreigners in hotels and guesthouses in form 'C'.

  • Booking of police band.