West Bengal signs MoU to improve beat-level policing
The state police will collaborate with the BPR&D to implement a one-year action plan for decentralised policing.
The West Bengal Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) on November 13 to implement a one-year action plan for beat-level policing. The agreement was signed at Nabanna Sabhaghar in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, according to reports by ANI and The News Mill.
The initiative aims to create a decentralised system where designated beat officers serve as the primary contact for citizens. This allows residents to report issues directly to officers in their areas rather than visiting a police station. West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Siddh Nath Gupta said the Anchal Officer or Beat Officer will now act as the primary unit to resolve problems.
To support the reforms, the Police Mitra app has been launched to strengthen public interaction. Chief Minister Adhikari instructed the home secretary to supply beat officers with necessary digital tools, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and printers. The administration also stated that civic volunteers will not be used for these reforms.
BPR&D Director General Alok Mittal said the MoU follows a recommendation from a national conference of Directors General of Police (DGPs) to implement beat policing across all states. He noted that the Union Home Minister directed the BPR&D to collaborate with states through such agreements.
Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal said the use of IT infrastructure and a dedicated app will consolidate data across the state to enable timely action. Adhikari has requested a three-month extension from Mittal to effectively implement the operational requirements of the agreement.