How can the police system be reformed? Exclusive interview with Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana

How can the police system be reformed? In an exclusive interview with Vikram Chandra, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana details the structural reforms he brought about, after he took charge, to overhaul the Delhi Police.

Among these reforms are crucial steps, such as merging police control room (PCR) units with police stations, and separation of law & order duties from investigation. Asthana said, the move is already showing results, with response times for distress calls down from 7.5 minutes to 4.3 minutes, along with a drastic reduction in complaints in 2 weeks.

The Delhi police is also upskilling itself as a tech-savvy force, with increased focus on cyber-crime. Asthana said that Delhi police will have also have a separate unit to handle drone technology in two-three years.

Making citizens comfortable with approaching the police for grievance redressal will continue to be a key focus area. Asthana said, in order to change the current perception of the force, policemen will have to be strict, impartial, & transparent. Maintaining law & order along with social harmony is crucial and there will be zero tolerance policy towards hate speech.