Mumbai police take lessons in being polite

MUMBAI, May 2: Mumbai police is getting a makeover. And if everything goes according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone-VII K L Pras...

MUMBAI, May 2: Mumbai police is getting a makeover. And if everything goes according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone-VII K L Prasad8217;s plan, Pandu Havaldar will soon learn to smile more often, say sorry as and when the situation demands and may even show the basic courtesies like offering a chair to a complainant.

The first step in this direction was taken today when 50 policemen interacted with a group of mohalla committee members at a four-hour workshop 8211; Do8217;s and Dont8217;s : Police behaviour in public8217; 8211; at Khar Education Society. Now on, every Sunday similar workshops will give an opportunity to policemen to interact with common people in an attempt to understand what has made policemen so unpopular with public and also to find out how this image can be changed. Each workshop will cover seven police stations and members of mohalla committees representing these police stations will be invited to share their experiences with the policemen.

While the initiative currently is restrictedto Western suburbs, depending on its success it will be expanded to cover others parts too. Initially, only 30 workshops are planned, but more may be held if needed.

At the Khar Education Society today, the discussion was frank. In attendance were over 50 policemen from Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, Juhu, Andheri, D N Nagar and Oshiwara police stations. Most of the complaints of misbehaviour emanated from personal experiences of mohalla committee members. The complaints ranged from being rude over the phone to discourteous behaviour in person.

8220;I wanted to make them understand how easily we can create a negative opinion about ourselves,8221; Prasad said. 8220;Being a good human-being is integral to being a good police officer. It is not just monetary gain that should motivate us but our basic aim should be to be useful to public,8221; he added. Regarded as the brainchild of the DCP Prasad, the initiative was prompted by several complaints from the public in police station and some made personally tohim.

While addressing the gathering Senior Police Inspector Computer Wing Amarjit Singh presented several analytical reports to prove that 8220;good behaviour can actually help in solving cases.8221; In the end plain paper slips were distributed to all officers present and they were asked to jot down their reactions to the complaints they had just heard and what were the changes which they promised to bring in themselves.