<div align="justify">Senior IPS officer T Suneel Kumar took office as Bengaluru’s newest police commissioner on Monday. In a freewheeling chat with DH on Tuesday, he shared his views on law enforcement in the city, his to-do list, his plans on addressing traffic problems and cybercrimes among other things. <br /><br />How does it feel to be the new police commissioner? <br /><br />I feel there is a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. Earlier, you had a boss whom you can look up to and follow his instructions, but now you are the boss and everyone looks up to you. I have to deliver what is expected of me. <br /><br />Previously, you were the only additional commissioner of police (law and order). How different has the city become from a police commissioner’s point of view? <br /><br />Earlier there was no social media in police. There was no WhatsApp, Facebook or Twitter. Now, police have mobile apps of their own. It’s a fast life and information spreads like wildfire, and we have to keep pace. Bengaluru has grown by leaps and bounds since I was the additional commissioner of police. The city is divided into two zones (east and west) with two additional commissioners. There are new law and order issues. <br /><br />Your style of functioning? <br /><br />I will be approachable and people friendly. Anybody can meet me when I am in office. <br /><br />Your priorities? <br /><br />Basic policing, maintenance of law and order, crime detection and deterrence, safety and security of women and children, keeping anti-social elements in check and tackling the drug menace. <br /><br />What’s on your immediate to-do list? <br /><br />My immediate task will be to look into cases already on the table of my officers relating to law and order, crimes against women and children, etc. We will look into specific cases and take appropriate action as per the law. We are also planning to conduct awareness programmes on safety and security of women and children. <br /><br />You are in the hot seat before the 2018 Assembly polls. <br /><br />Conducting the elections is a challenge for any police officer. I am certainly gearing up for the elections and conducting them in a free and fair manner will be my goal. <br /><br />The crime graph is rising and police are short-staffed. <br /><br />As for the staff shortage, a lot of recruitment is happening. We hope to get enough manpower to enhance night patrols and to keep bad elements in check. <br /><br />Since Bengaluru is an IT hub, how do you see cybercrimes? <br /><br />Cybercrimes are rising at an alarming pace. We have opened cybercrime police stations across the state. In Bengaluru, we have an exclusive cybercrime police station, headed by an Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) and staffed by trained personnel. We will train more people in tackling cybercrimes besides hiring outside experts. <br /><br />Any solutions for the traffic problems? <br /><br />The vehicle population is growing with each passing day while the road network has saturated. Maybe things will improve when Metro’s Phase 2 opens. We are thinking of how best to manage traffic. <br /></div>
<div align="justify">Senior IPS officer T Suneel Kumar took office as Bengaluru’s newest police commissioner on Monday. In a freewheeling chat with DH on Tuesday, he shared his views on law enforcement in the city, his to-do list, his plans on addressing traffic problems and cybercrimes among other things. <br /><br />How does it feel to be the new police commissioner? <br /><br />I feel there is a lot of responsibility on my shoulders. Earlier, you had a boss whom you can look up to and follow his instructions, but now you are the boss and everyone looks up to you. I have to deliver what is expected of me. <br /><br />Previously, you were the only additional commissioner of police (law and order). How different has the city become from a police commissioner’s point of view? <br /><br />Earlier there was no social media in police. There was no WhatsApp, Facebook or Twitter. Now, police have mobile apps of their own. It’s a fast life and information spreads like wildfire, and we have to keep pace. Bengaluru has grown by leaps and bounds since I was the additional commissioner of police. The city is divided into two zones (east and west) with two additional commissioners. There are new law and order issues. <br /><br />Your style of functioning? <br /><br />I will be approachable and people friendly. Anybody can meet me when I am in office. <br /><br />Your priorities? <br /><br />Basic policing, maintenance of law and order, crime detection and deterrence, safety and security of women and children, keeping anti-social elements in check and tackling the drug menace. <br /><br />What’s on your immediate to-do list? <br /><br />My immediate task will be to look into cases already on the table of my officers relating to law and order, crimes against women and children, etc. We will look into specific cases and take appropriate action as per the law. We are also planning to conduct awareness programmes on safety and security of women and children. <br /><br />You are in the hot seat before the 2018 Assembly polls. <br /><br />Conducting the elections is a challenge for any police officer. I am certainly gearing up for the elections and conducting them in a free and fair manner will be my goal. <br /><br />The crime graph is rising and police are short-staffed. <br /><br />As for the staff shortage, a lot of recruitment is happening. We hope to get enough manpower to enhance night patrols and to keep bad elements in check. <br /><br />Since Bengaluru is an IT hub, how do you see cybercrimes? <br /><br />Cybercrimes are rising at an alarming pace. We have opened cybercrime police stations across the state. In Bengaluru, we have an exclusive cybercrime police station, headed by an Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) and staffed by trained personnel. We will train more people in tackling cybercrimes besides hiring outside experts. <br /><br />Any solutions for the traffic problems? <br /><br />The vehicle population is growing with each passing day while the road network has saturated. Maybe things will improve when Metro’s Phase 2 opens. We are thinking of how best to manage traffic. <br /></div>
