3 min readNew DelhiMay 28, 2025 12:33 PM IST
First published on: May 28, 2025 at 12:32 PM IST
Don’t use your mobile phones. Don’t be seated in one spot. Ensure maximum visibility — instructions were issued to police stations in Lutyens’ Delhi to be more vigilant after tensions escalated between India and Pakistan earlier this month.
The directive to “ensure maximum visibility and presence of police staff in the area” was issued by New Delhi district DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) Devesh Kumar Mahla on Tuesday.
Station House Officers (SHOs) have been directed to conduct briefings of police staff in public places and instruct their officers not to use their phones or sit in one spot while on duty.
Among the 15 police districts in the national capital, New Delhi comprises 10 police stations headed by SHOs and overseen by five ACPs.
The New Delhi district is considered highly sensitive due to the presence of residences of VVIPs, politicians, and foreign dignitaries.
Public briefings, checks
According to the order seen, seen by The Indian Express, “morning and evening briefings of staff (in proper uniform) shall be conducted by SHOs at prominent and highly visible public areas within their respective jurisdictions every day.”
If the SHO is unavailable — on leave or other valid reasons — another inspector at the police station shall conduct the briefing.
The order further said point-wise checking and briefing of staff deployed on picket duty (both permanent and temporary) shall be conducted by the SHO, or, in case of his justified absence, by another inspector of the police station at least twice in each shift.
Additionally, the SDPO (Sub-Divisional Police Officer), who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police-level officer, shall conduct a briefing once during each shift.
While checking and briefing picket staff, the SHO and SDPO shall ensure there are at least three barricades in good condition with fluorescent and reflective tape at the picket.
Besides, there should be a minimum staff of three personnel with arms and ammunition, body-worn cameras and umbrellas for shade.
At night, in addition to the above, the picket staff must have blinkers, shoulder lights and fluorescent jackets.
The order said staff must be cautioned to not use a mobile phone in public view. At any point, personnel should not sit together, with no checking being conducted.
The conduct of the staff should be good and professional, the directions stated.
Checking and briefing staff on motorcycle duty shall also be conducted by the SHO.
In case of his absence, the order said, it should be carried out by another inspector at least two times in each shift and once by the SDPO in each shift.
The SHO and SDPO shall ensure that two personnel are assigned to one motorcycle. If this isn’t the case, then two motorcycles shall patrol as a buddy pair. One of the motorcycle staff must have arms and ammunition, a checking register and body-worn camera with them.
Station House Officers (SHOs) have been directed to conduct briefings of police staff in public places and instruct their officers not to use their phones or sit in one spot while on duty.
(File Photo) 
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