Village level police officers to get more teeth

Hyderabad: To bridge the gap with the people, police have decided to strengthen the system of village level police officers (VPO). This would help the police to get genuine reports from the ground-level, especially with regard to law and order.

Ahead of the elections, police are set to deploy staff in all police stations in an attempt to strengthen the VPO system so that the SHO or SI will get information about political or law and order disturbances.

As a pilot project, the police have initiated the system in 5,000 villages and tribal hamlets. Details of the VPO along with his mobile number are available at panchayat offices. The VPO will be an incumbent head constable, constable or assistant sub-inspector

Jogulamba Gadwal superintendent of police K. Srujana, who recently visited all 14 police stations as part of a field visit, said that in police stations that have less staff, a single policeman will handle two villages.

"When officers spend more time in villages, the policing system will improve and people will come forward to lodge complaints. It will be difficult to bring people to mandal headquarters, " the SP said.