Dadar GRP covers all bases to curb crime, solves 88 cases in 40 days

In just a month, between July and August 10, the government railway police (GRP), Dadar, solved 88 cases and arrested 100 accused, in comparison to the average 12 cases being solved prior to this in 2018. How: a scientific analysis of the rising crimes at Dadar led the GRP to station officers at the extreme ends of platforms, which were found to have minimal CCTV coverage and easy escape routes for criminals.

The GRP then launched a new initiative ‘Mission Visibility Policing’ which is being implemented at major stations across Central Railway (CR). According to Prasad Pandhre, senior inspector, Dadar GRP, an analysis of crimes at the station found that despite regular patrolling, molestation and mobile thefts took place between 7am and 11am and 5pm and 7pm on week days, especially at the extreme ends of platforms which are out of CCTV coverage and from where escaping is easy.

“We studied specific points where most crimes were committed and with the help of the railway protection force (RPF), chalked out a plan. A team of 10 quick response team (QRT) officers carrying weapons were stationed at either ends of platforms and at illegal exit points,” said Pandhre.

Pandhre said whenever a suspicious person is spotted, the officers intercept them. “We ask them why they are in Dadar. If they say they are here for work, we ask basic questions about the work and gauge if they are lying. This installs fear in criminals who are around. This has also served as a way of prevention.”

Pandhre said with this exercise, the response time of Dadar GRP reduced from seven minutes to one minute. Among the 100 cases solved, around 80 were of mobile theft and pick-pocketing.

Officials said although the strength of the GRP is less, they carry out this exercise every three hours. “If we conduct this exercise from 7am to 8am, the criminals are put on alert and they flee. The effect of this stays for almost two hours, after which we again continue this from 10am to 11am and throughout the day,” said Pandhre.

After the success of this initiative, Samadhan Pawar, deputy commissioner of GRP, CR, said, “Police presence has helped bring down crime rate at Dadar. We are replicating it at major stations where crime rate is high, such as Kurla, Thane, CSMT, etc,” said Pawar.

The GRP are also in the process for recruiting more personnel.