Coastal police stations face shortage of women police officers

SHANGUMUGAM: Criticisms have been raised that there are not enough female police officers in the coastal police stations where more complaints of violence against children and women are reported. Even the statements of women and children who are complainants are taken by male cops.

Due to this, it is not possible to clearly record many things mentioned in the complaint. Women help desks have been set up at most stations to provide immediate solutions to women's problems, but there are allegations that there are no women police officers to even sit here. Although there are more women policemen in the station records, most of them have joined special units using influence in the name of job arrangement. Vizhinjam police station has 10 female policemen on the records but only five are on duty. The rest are in special units. According to the structure of the Vizhinjam station, the services of 16 women police officers are required.

Thiruvallam station has seven female police officers. But only two people on duty. As per records, there are seven women cops at Poonthura station, but there are only five. At Valiyathura station, there are six women officers on the records, but currently two people are on duty. Due to the limited number of female police officers, it is often male police officers who go on guard duty to bring women to court.