To strengthen ground-level surveillance and enable proactive crime prevention, the Coimbatore City Police have launched ‘POLICE EYES – Private Security Guards Crime Prevention Network’. Through the initiative, security guards at apartments and other establishments will be trained and roped in to alert the police about suspicious activities and potential crimes.
Coimbatore: Security guards posted at apartment complexes, banks and other establishments will now form part of the city police’s crime-prevention network through the newly launched “POLICE EYES – Private Security Guards Crime Prevention Network” initiative.
The initiative was launched under the direction of Coimbatore City Police Commissioner Dr. N. Kannan, IPS, by roping in private security personnel to identify suspicious activities and alert the police before potential threats develop into crimes.
The initiative also seeks to address a practical limitation faced by the police — personnel cannot be present or monitor every location around the clock. Under the programme, security guards will therefore serve as an additional source of ground-level information for the police.
Police inspectors and Assistant Commissioners have been instructed to hold meetings with security guards and security agency representatives in their respective jurisdictions to explain the system, their responsibilities and the dos and don’ts to be followed.
Guards will be trained to identify suspicious persons and vehicles, attempted break-ins, tampering with locks or security systems, unusual night-time movement, interference with CCTV cameras and attempts by unauthorised persons to gain entry by posing as employees or residents.
They will also be trained to secure crime scenes without disturbing potential evidence, immediately inform the police and preserve relevant CCTV footage.
However, the police have made it clear that security guards are not expected to act as law-enforcement personnel. Their role is to observe and report. They have been instructed not to assault or unnecessarily detain anyone, conduct independent investigations or circulate unverified information through WhatsApp or social media.
They have also been cautioned against judging or discriminating against people based on their religion, caste, clothing, appearance, language or social background.
To facilitate quicker communication, the police are compiling details of establishments, security personnel and their contact numbers, working hours, security supervisors, crime-prone locations, vulnerable areas and CCTV facilities within each police station jurisdiction.
The initiative was launched under the direction of Coimbatore City Police Commissioner Dr. N. Kannan, IPS, by roping in private security personnel to identify suspicious activities and alert the police before potential threats develop into crimes.
The initiative also seeks to address a practical limitation faced by the police — personnel cannot be present or monitor every location around the clock. Under the programme, security guards will therefore serve as an additional source of ground-level information for the police.
Police inspectors and Assistant Commissioners have been instructed to hold meetings with security guards and security agency representatives in their respective jurisdictions to explain the system, their responsibilities and the dos and don’ts to be followed.
Guards will be trained to identify suspicious persons and vehicles, attempted break-ins, tampering with locks or security systems, unusual night-time movement, interference with CCTV cameras and attempts by unauthorised persons to gain entry by posing as employees or residents.
They will also be trained to secure crime scenes without disturbing potential evidence, immediately inform the police and preserve relevant CCTV footage.
However, the police have made it clear that security guards are not expected to act as law-enforcement personnel. Their role is to observe and report. They have been instructed not to assault or unnecessarily detain anyone, conduct independent investigations or circulate unverified information through WhatsApp or social media.
They have also been cautioned against judging or discriminating against people based on their religion, caste, clothing, appearance, language or social background.
To facilitate quicker communication, the police are compiling details of establishments, security personnel and their contact numbers, working hours, security supervisors, crime-prone locations, vulnerable areas and CCTV facilities within each police station jurisdiction.