Delhi to get UP-like 'Anti-Romeo' teams to curb eve-teasing

The Delhi Police in a bid to promote safety of women in the national capital have put into force "anti-eve-teasing" or "Shistachar" squads in all districts. The squads have been directed to “focus on enforcing the law, rather than imposing personal or cultural morality on individuals.”

This is the first instance when Delhi Police will have squads exclusively dedicated to the safety of women as per a report by The India Express.

Taking inspiration from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP in their election manifesto leading up to the Delhi Assembly election, had promised "Anti-Romeo squads." Yogi Adityanath was the first to form such a squads when he became CM in 2017.

The focus of the initiative will be on preventing, deterring, and responding to crime against women on a real-time basis, in order to promote a safer public space for women.

The Shistachar will consist of 12 police personnel headed by an Inspector. There will be at least two squads in each police district and an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) from the district's Crime Against Women Cell will oversee its working.

Four female police personnel and five male police personnel - Assistant Sub-Inspectors, head constables and constables - along with one Inspector and one Sub-Inspector will make up each squad. As per the report the members of the squad would be provided with a four-wheeler and adequate number of two-wheelers, a source said.

According to circular cited by the report one member of the Special Staff or Anti-Auto Theft Squad of the district will be earmarked for technical assistance whenever required.

The squads will focus on hotspots and vulnerable areas that are higher risks for women, The District Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) will identify and create a list of these areas which will then be shares with the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC).

The roster of deployment of the squads will be prepared by prepared by the district ACPs from the Crime Against Women Cell and approved by the DCP of SPUWAC every week.