Bengaluru: City police chief emphasises citizen-friendly policing, vows strict action on FIR delays

Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh outlined his priorities during a media briefing at the Bangalore Press Club, stressing the need for citizen-centric and fundamental policing practices.

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A key concern, he noted, was the delay in registering FIRs, warning that strict action would be taken against officers who harass complainants or redirect them unnecessarily.

The Commissioner highlighted that police stations are mandated to register FIRs without fail, regardless of the inspector's presence. He emphasized adherence to police manual protocols, which require inspectors to officially hand over charge when leaving the station. To ensure compliance, decoy checks are being conducted across stations.

Reiterating his focus on safety, Singh said that the protection of women and children remains a top priority, as many criminal offenses, including chain snatching and assaults, often originate from such vulnerabilities. He called for a war-footing approach to tackle these issues.

On broader policing goals, Singh identified cybercrime, traffic congestion, and enforcement of cyber laws as critical areas. He stated that coordination with civic agencies is ongoing to ease Bengaluru’s severe traffic issues, exacerbated by over 1.3 crore registered vehicles. To mitigate congestion, law and order personnel are being deployed to assist traffic police during peak hours.

Clarifying enforcement practices, Singh confirmed that vehicle checks should focus only on visible violations and discouraged unnecessary document inspections, particularly targeting out-of-state vehicles.