A few days ago, a policeman was alerted on a WhatsApp group about continued smoking near a school at Basaveshwaranagar. Almost immediately, the police took up the matter through a special drive, and booked 1,800 persons under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA).

This sort of action, where a resident tips off the police about the routine small offences, may perhaps not have come about if not for the ‘improvised’ police beat system that was recently put in place.

Under this, a constable is given complete charge of a beat, and he or she develops a network - through WhatsApp primarily - where residents become the eyes and ears of the police.

The system has seen a rapid uptake in the city’s West division, where 13 out of 30 police stations have been covered. In all, said officials, 7,800 residents, including even family members of police personnel, now assist the police. In essence, the beat police is always on the virtual prowl. “This would not only help build a strong local intelligence network among the local police station level, but has also proved to be a bonding factor between the police and the residents,” said M.N. Anucheth, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West).

This has also helped overcome a serious staff crunch among the police. A senior police officer said police personnel now have to worry a little less on gathering information or to accrue local support in the case of any eventuality.

After all, the system is designed such that any person can be a policemen without the uniform to help make their neighbourhood safer.