‘Operation Walk-Through’ is a unique initiative started by IPS officer Ramit Sharma, IG, Bareilly Range, to improve the public perception of police and reduce the perceived disconnect from each other by focusing on community-oriented policing. Under the project, police personnel meet up and walk with the people out for their morning and evening walks and discuss their problems. To strengthen the bond further, police is now assuring the public that they are their friends and are always with them. ‘Operation Walk-Through’ is now being implemented in all districts of the division.
Indian Masterminds interacted with 2019-batch IPS officer and CO City of Shahjahanpur, Mr. Saravanan Thangamani, to know how this initiative is being implemented in his district.
THE PROJECT
IPS officer Saravanan Thangamani said, “The intention of this project is to improve the visibility of police among the public. There is a perception that there is a distance between police and public. We want to fill that gap. This will have two advantages. First, we improve on the visibility of the police, so this will reduce crimes. Second, when we meet people in morning and evening at crowded places, we get to know their problems and suggestions. For instance, in the morning walk, we meet with walker associations, yoga associations, etc. They suggested that there should be lady constables in the morning for those women’s safety who walk in the early morning. So, we decided to deploy some police staff in civil dress to keep vigil.”
IMPLEMENTATION
The officer further informed that from 5 to 8 am in the morning and from 5 to 8 pm in the evening, police personnel have to walk and interact with people, as laid down under Operation Walk-Through. The idea is to ensure a safe environment for the people out for walks and other fitness activities. The purpose of foot patrol is to let people know that there is sufficient police force in their area, and in case of any suspicious movement, they can inform the police easily.
BENEFITS
“One of the biggest advantages of this project is that there are many local issues which do not come to our notice. But, as soon as we step into the field, people immediately open up to us. They give us valuable inputs. It is a goodwill gesture and, also, a crime prevention method. This is more of an outreach from our side,” Mr. Thangamani said.
Police stations in the entire district have been instructed to patrol in the morning and evening, in and around parks, grounds, markets, temples, places of worship and crowded places. Police personnel have also been instructed to communicate especially with senior citizens, women and children to ensure their safety.
WALKING THE TALK
IG Ramit Sharma said that police will be present in every place where people do not consider themselves secure. Through operation Walk-Through, all such places would be identified where police deployment is required, and personnel would be deployed. Police will also be present in those places where there is more movement. He said that every person, especially women, will feel safe when they see the police near them. This operation is meant to inculcate a feeling in the heart of every common man that he is safe, the officer concluded.
IG Ramit Sharma has been seen walking in the parks and streets, as part of Operation Walk-Through, and even readily posing for selfies with the public.
