The Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) set up in residential colonies not only resulted in low crime rate but gave confidence to people, particularly women, who now come out for a walk.
Localities such as Doctors Colony, which is located far away from the city used to be deserted and were a haven for chain snatchers who were on the prowl. With the police convincing the residents to install CCTVs, now women confidently come out without any fear.
Most of the police stations in the Commissionerate have turned into smart stations where the CCTVs in colonies are connected directly to them.
“The personnel at police station continuously monitor what is happening in each colony and keep a tab on people moving suspicious,” says City Police Commissioner G Sudheer Babu.
When the police gave a call to residents, a total of 29 colony welfare associations came forward and installed CCTVs.
The response is amazing and now the we have 16,600 CCTVs in various colonies, shopping complexes and other public places.
“I salute people of Warangal for their response. Policing becomes easy with these cameras,” he told The Hindu.
According to him, the smart police stations have local WhatsApp number, synchronised with colony CCTVs, and women personnel who train self-defence techniques to women and girls organised into groups in their respective areas.
The police commissionerate that was formed an year ago has been reorganised during formation of new districts.
Earlier, it was of 1,237 km., with 19 law and order police stations.
Now, it has 37,000 km., with 45 law and order police stations. The staff crunch continues to be a problem given the increased jurisdiction.
The Commissionerate is extended to Warangal Rural, Warangal Urban and Jangaon districts.
Mr Sudheer Babu says there was good cooperation from people and all the CCTVs have internet protocol cameras that greatly help policing.
“We have also arranged cameras at Kasturba schools. Our woman constables regularly visit these schools as they are adopted by the police department,” he said.
