PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police Malik Naveed Khan has directed police highups to establish special police force at village level as per Police Order 2002 with immediate effect. These directives were issued to all DIGs and DPOs in a special order issued from CPO Tuesday, says a press release.
While spelling out the method of selection of the special police force, Malik Naveed said that in every village there should be one respectable, impartial, resourceful and well-reputed helper of police who will head the special police officers of the village, who shall be nominated on the recommendation of the local SHO, SDPO, subject to the approval of the DPO, the press release said.
It further said that the local police should give patronage to the heads of special police officers created so that their authority is established in the village.
They were also directed that the police officers concerned while recommending/appointing the special police officers shall ensure that all special police officers are apolitical i.e. not members or workers of any political party. Similarly the head of the special police officers will recommend the names of village police officers who shall be selected in consultation with the local SHO and SDPO, to be finally approved by the DPO. He shall be a Razakar, voluntary worker.
The duties of the special police officers will include: to keep peace in the area and their jurisdiction under the umbrella of local police; to help the police in detection, prevention of crime and apprehension of offenders; to patrol with police in the villages and assist in formation of and join "chagha parties"; to inform police about the persons who have no obvious source of income and are suspicious character; to inform police about the presence of POs and BCs, disputes which are likely to lead to crime or law and order situation, epidemic disease amongst the people, animals, birds etc, the refugees and other aliens and their activities; to report all unreported crimes, to help the police during natural disasters; to help improve the image of the local police.
The order further stated that the head of the special police force will report to the SHOs of local police station periodically either in person or through diaries once in a fortnight, or could do more frequently depending on the importance and urgency of information. Similarly the SHO/beat officer while visiting the village will periodically meet the special police officers for seeking information and assistance. Likewise the SHO will maintain a separate register which should record the activities of the special police force.
Some guidelines have also been laid down for the special police force. Quarterly meeting of all heads of special police officers with DPO will also be held regularly. It further maintained that the DPO will be overall supervising authority over village police thus all the activities conducted by such special police officers shall be monitored by the DPO.
The order further elaboratd that the DPO could either club in a number of small villages to organise the village police officers to perform their duties in the beats that they have already laid out for a police station or bigger villages with complex problems and crimes could be taken separately. The discretion will be with the local police.
