24-strong force set to make public spaces safer for women in the State capital

On Wednesday afternoon, Kolkata Police unleashed a new weapon against eve-teasers, stalkers and roadside Romeos: an all-woman motorbike squad.

Dressed in the whites of the Kolkata Police, the 24-strong squad of constables was congratulated by Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar at a brief ceremony at the Lalbazar police headquarters before they set out to patrol the streets in their brand new scooties.

Safer public places

“Introducing “The Winners” — a special all-women patrolling team to combat and prevent crimes like molestation, eve-teasing etc. to make public places safer for women,” the Kolkata Police tweeted. According to a senior police officer, the constables were inducted into the force on the basis of their record. They were given four months special training before taking up the new assignment.

Equipped with cameras

The squad, which is also equipped with cameras, is aimed at instilling confidence and curbing crime against women in the city. Each scooty will have two women constables. While the squad will cover the entire jurisdiction of the Kolkata Police, they will keep a special eye on schools, colleges and parks.

The mobility of the scooty-riding cops is expected to provide the Kolkata Police an edge, as they can reach even remote corners of the city in no time.