New cell to ensure cops don't give up old cases

The Delhi Police plan to start measures to improve policing in the Capital, which include setting up a department to investigate and nab criminals involved in cases over a year old.

According to police commissioner Neeraj Kumar, the ‘Old Cases Cell’ will be formed in all 11 districts under the crime branch. 

“I have noticed that we tend to ignore cases that are over a year old. As these may involve notorious criminals, we must continue monitoring them and be active for nabbing the accused,” Kumar said on Saturday morning.

“I believe that forming this new cell in every district will keep teams on constant alert and help improve policing. We have to continue our vigil,” he added.

He said police and public interaction should be improved and towards this end, a mechanism will be launched to provide information to complainants about progress in their cases.

“Senior officials have instructed investigating officers of all police stations to keep in touch with complainants and share information about progress in probe,” Kumar said. He was addressing the media after the graduation parade of the 10th batch of assistant commissioners of police held on Saturday morning at Jharoda Kalan.

At least 19 police officials, including two women, successfully completed their training and took part in the parade. Of these, 16 belong to Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service and three are from Pondicherry Police Service. Kumar told the graduating officials to adopt best practices of policing by imbibing a spirit of service to the public. He asked them to provide relief to vulnerable sections of society. Police should rise to the expectations of the common man, Kumar added.

He made particular mention of the ‘YUVA’ initiative of Delhi Police. The programme channelises energy of school dropouts and unemployed youth into productive activities to prevent them from taking up crime.