First Safe City police training in Bengaluru

Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara addresses the police officers in his augurational speech

For 40 sub-inspectors and inspectors of the Karnataka State Police, it was two special days, away from desk and beat: On the 6th and 7th of February, the officers took part in a Safe City training seminar called “Gender Sensitive Best Practices, Implementation and Capacity Building of Police Officials” in Bengaluru. The programme, jointly organized by Hanns Seidel Foundation with its partners Global Concerns India and Centre for Social Research from New Delhi, aimed at sensitizing members of the KSP junior officer ranks for the issues of women, children and transgenders in urban spaces of Kanrataka.

Six experts from differing areas such as police administration, women empowerment, law and media conducted their sessions with presentations and examples from their experience. Interactive practices aimed at improving practical skills to use in daily work. 

Trainer Brinda Adige interacts with the 40 sub-inspectors and inspectors

During the seminar – the first Safe City Police Training ever held in Karnataka – of its kind jointly organized by police and civil society in Karnataka – questions from various field were discussed: How can an officer improve his or her relations with the press? Is today’s image of women shaped by biology or society? Which new guidelines are in place for gender inclusive cities and how can the police make use of them? Time was also allotted to give the inspectors and sub-inspectors the opportunity to ask follow-up questions to the experts, which was greatly made use of. Similarly, the Women & Children Helpline Bengaluru by the Bengaluru City Police, provided an in-depth exchange with the participants.

The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. G. Parameshwara, Home Minister of Karnataka, who emphasized the importance of a sensitive and respectful approach by the police towards weak groups of society. He further announced to increase the number of women police stations in Karnataka and repeated the state’s target to reach a female quota of 20% in the police force.

The Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Praveen Sood, expressed his content with the programme and showed himself ready to support further programmes by Hanns Seidel Foundation in Karnataka.

Hanns Seidel Foundation is committed to increase the safety of women and children in Indian cities; it supports Karnataka’s development of a citizen-friendly policing and promotes the dialogue between police and civil society.