West Bengal signs MoU to implement beat-level policing action plan
The state police will collaborate with the BPR&D to transition towards a decentralised system over one year.
The West Bengal Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) on Friday to implement a one-year action plan for beat-level policing. The ceremony took place at Nabanna Sabhaghar and was attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, according to ANI.
The initiative aims to create a decentralised system where designated beat officers act as the main contact for citizens. This will allow people to report local issues directly to officers assigned to their specific areas.
West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Siddh Nath Gupta said the new structure moves the focus away from the police station. He stated that the Anchal Officer or Beat Officer will now serve as the fundamental unit, allowing citizens to message or call their officer to resolve problems without visiting a station.
West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal told ANI that the agreement involves the BPR&D, which is the central body for police reform research. He noted that a dedicated app and IT infrastructure will be used to consolidate state-wide data for faster action on intelligence.
BPR&D Director General Alok Mittal said the move follows a recommendation from a national conference of DGPS to implement beat policing across all states. He added that the Union Home Minister directed the BPR&D to sign such MoUs with states as part of a national one-year action plan.