The police is a department that works day and night. It is the responsibility of the government to provide them with at least the minimum facilities they need. Although the role played by the police in maintaining the law and order status of the state is very large, they are also a section that faces a lot of criticism even for small mistakes.

Police stations, the lowest level of policing, are where most of the work to prevent crime and maintain law and order takes place. There are around six hundred police stations across the state for this purpose. New vehicles should be given first to the police stations but this does not happen. Good vehicles are shared by the top brass and relatively old vehicles are given to the stations. The cops have no option but to adjust to these rusty cars!

Last day, an out of control police jeep rammed a car that was filling fuel at a petrol pump in Kannur. The reversing car smashed the fuel dispenser but luckily a major disaster was avoided. The accident was caused by a Bolero jeep from Kannur town station. This Jeep has covered more than three and a half lakh kilometres and is eleven years old. The vehicle had worn tires and a rusted body.

Smoke billowing from the front of the DySP's jeep that piloted the Chief Minister's vehicle in Kasaragod and the special branch DySP's vehicle catching on fire at a traffic signal in Thiruvananthapuram are two other recent incidents. Although the law states that a vehicle that has travelled three lakh kilometres can be changed, this is often not done. Police cars were repaired in private workshops approved by the government. Due to huge arrears of repair charges, they do not take new repair jobs. As the dues of spare parts increased, that too is not available. With this, the police drivers are taking the old vehicles on the road with huge risk.

People who commit serious crimes like drug dealing often use high-speed cars. The police have only these rusty cars to chase them! This very sad situation must change. New vehicles purchased by the police are often given to battalions, control rooms and special units. This practice must change. The latest vehicles should be given first to the police stations.