Punjab moves ahead with plan to get ISO certification for police stations

The DGP (Community Policing Branch) has dispatched letters to the heads of police in all districts. The government has hired private consultancy firms to train staff,specifically in how to deal more effectively swith the public.

According to the letter sent to police chiefs,the entire process has been divided into three steps. First,a consultant for training of the employees and documentation of records will be hired who will be given approximately Rs 15,000 for a 15-day session. After this,the ISO certification company (Bureau of Indian Standards) will inspect the station and issue a certificate,charging Rs 25,000 per police station.

As the third step,after completion of one year,the certification company would conduct surveillance and audit,and issue another certificate,at a fee of Rs 7,000. Another certification will be done after the second year,at another Rs 7,000; and after three years,the entire process will be repeated,says the letter.

“Our training will ensure better police-public interaction in the state,” claimed O P Kapoor,head of the firm,OSSRV Sigma Quality and Tracebility Service,one of the consultant companies hired for the training.

A senior officer said the project was supposed to be started in 2009 but shortage of funds delayed it. “Releasing funds on a regular basis for the project is going to be a problem as the government is already short of money,” an officer said.