The Mumbai Traffic Police (MTP) is waking up to the safety concerns of its constables, who patrol the streets of Mumbai. Traffic authorities said that in addition to using technology wherein interaction of offenders with constables is reduced, they will also be reviewing self-defence techniques taught to traffic cops during training.
With demands from police officer’s wives that the traffic cops be provided with guns or at least lathis, the traffic higher ups say these propositions are difficult to implement. “Unlike other policemen, the job of a traffic policeman involves moving one’s hands to control the flow of traffic. He has to have a notebook, whistle and a pen at all times and during night duty he has a florescent baton to signal to vehicles. With all this, how would he hold and keep a lathi with him ” said Milind Bharambe, joint commissioner of police (traffic).
He explained that the traffic police was starting two new initiatives wherein technology would be used to book offenders. “We will soon begin e-challans and issuing challans after noting down the offenders from CCTV footage,” said Mr Bharambe.
He added traffic police officers were being taught self-defence techniques so they can protect themselves. “In 2015, we started training all new entries techniques to safeguard themselves,” he said. Till date, the MTP has trained 2,780 traffic policemen of the 3,000 traffic men on duty. “We give intensive self-defence training to all the novices,” said an officer.
