Moral policing: Police to launch campaign

The police, in an attempt to curb the menace of moral policing, will launch an awareness campaign in the state.

The ambitious initiative will be implemented through ‘Janamaithri,’ the flagship community policing scheme of the department. DGP K S Balasubramanian told ‘Express’ that the department had high hopes on the initiative.

‘’A change in the people’s mindset is imperative. The legal remedy is to file cases according to the severity of the offence. But to eradicate the evil, we need to make the public aware,’’ Balasubramanian said.

As the first step, the stakeholders of Janamaithri will discuss the programme to chart out an implementation plan, officials said.

‘’Janamaithri has already succeeded in winning the hearts of the people. Residents’ associations which have close association with Janamaithri scheme can do a lot,’’ they said.

 ‘’On several occasions, moral policing had taken place at the behest of residents’ association office-bearers. Their vigil against immoral traffic, in many cases, resulted in unwanted suspicion and untoward incidents.

The first step, however, should be to educate the residents’ associations,’’ said a top official.

Police personnel too will be covered under the project as there were incidents in which the police took action on tip offs without cross checking the facts, the official said. 

Besides awareness programmes, the department will also strengthen the beat policing activity to check the menace.

Though there is also a proposal to include student police cadets in the scheme, it is yet to be finalised.

 ‘’The issue will be discussed at the meeting of top officials of south and north zones to be held here on October 8 and 9,’’ said Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.