Lieutenant-Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Friday opened Delhi’s first police station dedicated exclusively to investigating crimes against women and children.

The station in Subzi Mandi will handle all cases related to crimes against women and children reported in the North district, including domestic violence, dowry harassment, sexual assault, molestation, stalking, harassment and rape.

The police station has a sanctioned strength of 57 personnel and will handle cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

The facility was inaugurated in the presence of Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha and other senior officers.

‘Inspiring confidence’

Addressing the gathering, the L-G said the success of the initiative would be measured by the confidence it inspires among women and girls, rather than merely by the number of cases handled.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Niharika Bhatt said the station has been designed to ensure that women complainants feel comfortable while approaching the police. “Nearly 60% of the personnel posted here are women. The Station House Officer and the Assistant Commissioner of Police are women, and key functions such as the investigation, registration of FIRs and data management will also be handled by women personnel,” she said.

The officer added that the personnel have undergone specialised training to handle sensitive cases, and additional soft-skills training will be imparted to them to strengthen victim-centric policing.

The facility, which includes a child-friendly room for children accompanying complainants, will also offer counselling services for marital disputes, said Ms. Bhatt.

Outreach initiatives

Apart from investigation, the police station will conduct awareness programmes and community outreach initiatives to promote awareness of women’s rights and legal remedies.

Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Devesh Srivastava said the North district also runs initiatives such as the ‘Rani Jhansi Squad’ and ‘Vamika’ bike patrols to enhance the visibility of women personnel. As part of its drive to create safe spaces for women, Delhi Police has also set up 116 Pink Booths in the city and introduced all-woman PCR vans.