Lahore, September 01, 2021 (PPI-OT):Inspector General of Punjab Police Inam Ghani has said that protection of women and immediate prevention of crimes against them is the top priority of Punjab Police and it has been decided to set up Women Harassment and Violence Cells to ensure prompt registration of cases and investigation on merit in every case of crimes reported against women. He directed all the RPOs of the province to ensure the establishment of “Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells” within a week in the districts under their administration and also launch a full-fledged publicity campaign for these special cells for public awareness.
He further said that DIG Operations Punjab would closely monitor the establishment of Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cell in all the districts of the province within the stipulated timeline while DIG Investigation Punjab would monitor every case registered in these cells and also focus on monitoring of the speedy investigation on merit so that the accused involved in gender crimes, especially dangerous habitual offenders, can be convicted and sentenced by the courts. He further said that Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells will work under the supervision of City Police Officer and District Police Officer and in these cells a specialized unit of Lady Police personnel will perform the duties of Victim Support Officer to provide all possible support to the affected women.
He further said that these Victim Support Officers will liaise with the affected women and be present with them during the investigation and trial hearing and will also provide assistance to the affected women on matters related to the case during the hearing. He further said that there would be a Victim Support Officer in each case and Victim Support Officers would be appointed on the basis of crimes related to women.
The IG Punjab further directed that appropriate telephone lines should be set up in Anti-Harassment and Violence Cells to receive phone calls and response to crime calls received from women would be ensured within 15 minutes. He issued these instructions while giving instructions to all the officers of the province during the video link RPOs conference on prevention of crimes against women held at the Central Police Office today.
During the meeting, the IG Punjab directed that a digital database of suspected and habitual offenders involved in crimes against women should be prepared while the crime mapping system should be made more active by identifying sensitive areas related to crimes. He further said that police patrolling and deployment of force at sensitive places should be increased while assistance could be sought from field officers as well as other units in this regard. He added that special attention should be paid to the awareness campaign on crime prevention through print, electronic and social media, Women Safety App and Anti-Harassment and Violence Cells so that more women and girls can benefit from it.
He further said that the staff of Anti-Women Harassment and Violence Cells will also inform their respective supervisory officers about every call received and the supervisory officers will ensure timely response under personal supervision and no call or request can be filed without taking it to a logical conclusion. He further said that feedback would also be sought from the victim on each case and the response time and victim feedback would be reviewed in detail in the meeting of supervisory officers.
He further said that the registered cases would be investigated by experienced, competent and expert investigating officers while the concerned SDPOs would personally monitor each case and spare no effort in providing justice to the affected woman. The meeting was attended by Additional IG Special Branch Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh, Additional IG Operations Punjab Sahibzada Shehzad Sultan, DIG Operations Punjab Sohail Akhtar Sukhera, AIG Operations Syed Zeeshan Raza including other officers and all RPOs of the province participated through Video Link.
For more information, contact:
Punjab Police
Punjab Police Computer Bureau,
5th Floor, Central Police Office (CPO),
Punjab, Lahore
Tel: +92-42-99213019, +92-42-99213013
Fax: +92-42-99213012
Email: sapcb@punjabpolice.gov.pk
Website: www.punjabpolice.gov.pk