Delhi Police launches five all-women PCR vans

New Delhi, Sep 9: In a first of its kind initiative, Delhi Police on Friday launched five all-women Police Control Room (PCR) vans to handle "all kinds of distress calls".

Three women personnel will be deputed at every PCRs which will ply in five areas of central and Lutyen's Delhi, including Vigyan Bhawan, Jesus and Mary College, Khan Market Metro Station, the American Center at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, and Motilal Nehru Marg.

Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma flagged off the PCR vans from the police headquarters here.

Among the three women personnel, one will be the driver of the PCR van while another will carry an MP-5 gun. They have undergone a three-month training where they were taught driving, firing and unarmed combat skills.

Special Commissioner of Police (Operations) Sanjay Beniwal said "the women personnel deployed in these PCR vans have also been given behavioural training to tackle complaints from women".

"These women personnel have been trained to handle all kinds of distress calls and have undergone basic medical training. The initiative has been taken with a view that lady distress callers find it easier to communicate with women police personnel and narrate their grievances without any hesitation," he added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police R.K. Singh said a total of 20 women police personnel have been trained for the job in shifts between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"After they are more confident in handling calls, they will be posted in areas that are frequented by women and children. They will be posted around girls schools, malls and markets and around girls colleges on North and South Campus," he said.

IANS