The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the basic policing and patterns of crime. While drunken driving challans have been put on hold, police have been instructed to avoid arresting people involved in crimes subjected to punishment of less than seven years, especially those residing in containment zones. Meanwhile, a directive has been issued to the police personnel to maintain maximum social distancing while performing their duty of maintaining law and order.
According to the Chandigarh police, the ratio of crime involving incidents of murder, attempt to murder, burglaries, snatching, fatal road accidents have come down by 70 per cent, but complaints of domestic violence, suicide, cyber crime have recorded a rise between March 24 and May 20. The curfew owing to COVID-19 was imposed in Chandigarh on March 23 night and withdrawn on May 5.
Requesting anonymity, an SHO said, “There were days when we were directed to chase and nab hardcore criminals, but these days we are given the task to nab people venturing out of their house without wearing masks, make people download the Arogya Setu app and to provide essential items to the those in need. We were told not to arrest persons residing at containment zones, until these zones are not declared disinfected.” Over 210 people have been arrested for not wearing masks and thousands of people have been made to download the Aragoya Setu app since the lockdown began.
DGP (Chandigarh) Sanjay Baniwal said, “Changes in policing is the need of the hour. We are a part of the society and as society changes, methods of policing evolve. We have instructed police personnel to not arrest culprits involved in crimes which have punishment of less than seven years, especially from the containment zones. We stopped drunken driving challans after the outbreak, however, I am confident this particular challan drive will resume. We are in the process to make improvised gadgets for challaning people without coming in close contact. There’s a 50 per cent reduction in the reported heinous crimes since the outbreak. Meanwhile, cases of suicide, domestic violence and stress-related problems are on the rise. Police personnel have been told to maintain maximum social distancing. I myself reduced paperwork in the office to avoid contact with people.”
