| Kochi City Police കൊച്ചി പോലീസ് |
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| Abbreviation | (കൊ.പോ) |
| Logo of the Kochi City Police | |
| The official badge of Kochi Police. | |
| The official flag of Kerala Police, used by Kochi Police. | |
| Motto | "മൃദു ഭാവെ, ദൃഢ കർമ്മ" Mridu Bhave Dhrida Kruthye |
| Soft Temperament, Firm Action | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1966 |
| Preceding agency | Cochin State Royal Police |
| Employees | 13,213 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | City of Kochi, India |
| Size | 90.2 km² |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Overviewed by | Home Office, Government of Kerala |
| Headquarters | 11, Commissariat - City Police HQ, Revenue Tower |
| Elected officer responsible | Oommen Chandy (Chief Minister) |
| Agency executive | M.R Ajithkumar IPS, DIG & Commissioner |
| Parent agency | Kerala Police |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 20 |
| Lock-Up, Sub Jails | 23 |
| Mahindra Scorpios | 65 |
| High Speed Marine Inceptors | 20 |
| Sniffer Dogs (Bomb and Narcotics)s | 12 |
| Website | |
| Kochi Police | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
Kochi City Police (KCP) (Malayalam കൊച്ചി പോലീസ്) is the police force of the Indian city of Kochi. The force is headed by a Police Commissioner, an IPS officer. The city police was reorganized as Metro Police force, on April 1, 1966, after forming City Corporation of Cochin. Kochi City Police is one of the most advanced police force, considering the strategic importance of the city. The Kochi City Police was the first police departments in India to use BlackBerry mobiles for encrpted communications within its team members. The Kochi City police teamed up with Vodafone India, for dedicated mobile communications support.[1]
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The erstwhile Cochin State was a part of the Chera Empire during the 15th century AD and the King was the absolute ruler of that State. The State was divided into several Desams, which were ruled by Desavazhis. It was further divided into several Nadus which were controlled by Naduvazhis. The military men who were known as Chengathakkar were performing duties such as protecting the travellers, merchants and guarding Forts. Their duties and powers were a combination of those of the Military as well as the Police. Owing to certain curtailment in the powers of Naduvazhis, the entire State was divided into ten Kovilakathams Vathilukal (Taluk) and the King became more powerful. The bureaucracy was also strengthened, which comprised Sarvadhikaryakar, Menon, Kizhikkar and Muthalpidikkar. They got the powers and duties of Police and performed as judicial officers in addition to their duty to collect revenues to the state.
The modern Kochi Police system created by Sakthan Thampuran by appointing a specialized force known as Kavil-Pallikar (Watch Guards). In 1812 Colonel Munroe, who took charge as the Dewan of Kochi, introduced radical changes in the administrative structure. He appointed a Thana Naik (Station Head). Daroga, an officer associated with Huzur Kachery, performed the duties of Thana Naik. The Thana Naik performed duties such as booking of thieves, recovery of thondy articles, seizure of smuggled goods and patrolling the local area. There were many proclamations, promulgated between 1812 and 1816 AD to notify the duties and powers of the courts and the Police in Cochin State.
Rama Varma who ruled the Cochin State from 1864 to 1868 was a reformist. He appointed George Gunther to study and submit a report on the reorganisation of Police. On the basis of Gunther's report an independent Police Department was formed in 1883. Gunther became the First Superintendent of Police of the Cochin State.
Subsequently a major reorganisation took place in 1908. Three zones were created. The ratio between the Police and the people was fixed and maintained as 1:1523 during that period. in 1908 Sub-inspectors were appointed in the post of Station House Officers. The following officers succeeded Gunther as Superintendent of Police in the State of Cochin. R.B. Fargoosen (1895–99), R.T. Louis (1900–01), Subba Rao (1901–06), A.J. Fargoosen (1907–10), M.AChacko (1911–20) and H.W.M. Brown. In 1920 Inspector and Sub-Inspector were re-designated as Divisional Inspector of Police and Inspector of Police respectively. The Superintendent of Police was re-designated as the Commissioner of Police in 1921 and H W M Brown was appointed as the first Police Commissioner of the Cochin State. A Traffic Wing with the assistance of a Break Inspector was also introduced. During that period the total strength of the Police Department consisted of 97 Officers and 580 Police Constabulary. In 1935, the Village Vigilance committees were established and they helped the Police at large. In 1941 the Cochin Police Manual was published. The manual clearly described the various duties of the Police with defined powers. Since there was an agitation by the Police force in 1942, a major reshuffle was ordered. As a result one company of Armed Police was shifted to Nair Brigade and the Traffic Wing was shifted to Ernakulam, which was kept under the direct control of the Police Commissioner. In 1946 the Fire Force wing was also affiliated to the Police Command.
The Cochin Police had a very cordial relationship with the neighbouring Malabar and Travancore Police and due to mutual relationship; the arrest of the offenders was easily facilitated.
In 1947, the Cochin State Royal Police was merged with Royal Travancore Police to form Travancore-Kochi State Police. After formation of Kerala, this force became part of Kerala Police. That time, the Kochi city had 3 police departments, namely Fort Kochi Police, Mattancherry Police and Ernakulam City Police. In 1960 when 3 municipalities was merged together to form Cochin City Corporation, the force too was renamed as Kochi City Police.
The Kochi City Police is headed by City Commissioner who also is Foreigners Registration Officer with executive powers for granting immigration status to non-nationals. The Commissioner is from IPS Kerala Cadre and current incumbent is Mr. ajith kumar IPS. The commissioner is assisted by Deputy Commissioner (DCP). The DCP is assisted by 6 Assistant Commissioners (ACP) each for a zone and one for traffic. The city is divided into 3 zones, each zone headed by a Circle Inspector (CI). The city has 19 police stations, each led by a Station Inspector (SI) and one cyber police station.[2]
The Commissioner reports to Central Range Inspector General of Police (IGP-Central).
The Central Control Room is the major co-ordinating center that co-ordinates the entire movements of police force for the city. Public can reach the control room, by making distress toll-free call 100 in any telephonic device. The Control room maintains 12 Flying Squads (High Fast Patrol Team), in major points of the city and upon distress call, the control room identifies the location of call and directs the nearest squad to rush to the spot.
A special Crime stopper center have been opened, where public can pass on first degree crime messages, to allow police to prevent such crimes. For this the public can call at 1090 and all messages are kept in anonymity for protecting the identity of the informant. Currently the Cochin Police maintains 3 control rooms, one in Central Police Station in the city, another near Cochin International Airport and third at Cochin Port.
One Assistant Commissioner of Police is also Chief of Anti Narcotics Squad[3], that checks use and trafficking of narcotics and banned psychotropic drugs. Currently the cell operates at Edappally Police Station and has 2 squads, one in the city and another for Airport.
For the protection and assistance of single women and children, a special all women station functions with a Lady officer and 20 lady constables. A medical counselor functions in the station, to solve family disputes and provide counselling facilities to needy. The station also handles crimes that involve ladies and juveniles offenders. Currently the station is located at Police Quarters near High Court of Kerala.
Kochi City Police maintains a secret police consisting of 29 detective agents and 10 under-cover officers with a Circle officer leading the team. The City Shadows is deployed for monitoring suspects, possible crime scenes, trapping crime offenders and gathering first hand intelligence inputs.
This forms an intelligence unit for Kochi City Police force, where informations gathered at all corners are collected, analyzed and recorded to regular use. The SB has various methods to gather information and employs Mafti (Under-cover)force for information. However unlike City Shadows, this force has no executive powers to arrest or initiate case against any individual or organization.
Due to presence of several water bodies around the city and possible attacks from sea, Kochi city police maintains an Marine unit called Marine One, which makes regular patrols on backwaters and lakes. For this, Kochi city Police inducted 20 high speed inceptor boats. The team closely works with Coast guard and Coastal Police Station.
The Kerala Police maintains a second unit of Elite Commando force at Kochi, for thwarting possible sabotage operations. This includes countering terrorist attacks and major attacks. The team is equipped with sophisticated weapons and modelled on SWATs. The current unit will be temporarily have Kalamasserry as its base.
Kochi Police maintains 2 units of armed police[4]. The headquarters of Armed Kochi Police is located at Thrippunithura along with a major detachment unit at Marine Drive. The Armed force has more than 800 members. The ARC at Kochi is the second largest in the state and one of the largest in the India. 2 Coys are maintained in AR-Thrippunithura and 3 Coys at AR-Marine Drive. The force also includes Rapid Action Force for emergency deployment, Riot Force and Personal Home Guards. Personal Home Guards are mainly for private security of VIPs and celebrities as well as providing prisoner escort and inter-bank money transfer escorts.
In addition 3 major squads are maintained at Armed Reserve Camps.
TEAR GAS SQUAD: A Tear Gas Squad having strength of 5 PCs is functioning at AR Kochi City.
BOMB SQUAD: The Bomb Squad AR Kochi City is functioning under the charge of one SI, having only strength of 2 Head Constables and 3 constables. Considering the recent Bomb threats the Bomb Squad has to be strengthened more by more trained men, latest equipment with Bomb Disposal facility.
DOG SQUAD: Dog Squad Units of Armed Reserve Camp, Ernakulam and Thrippunithura are functioning under the charge of one SI. 2 Sniffer Dogs and 2 Tracker Dogs are available in this Squad. At present 1 Head constable & 8 constables are attached to Dog Squad for handling purpose.
Kochi City Traffic Police, is a semi-autonomous body with an Assistant Commissioner taking the lead. There are 2 divisions, the Regulatory Office located near Central Police Station and second at Mattancherry. There are nearly 127 Traffic wardens. around 250 Traffic guards from Kerala Home Guards force and a large number of traffic volunteers.
Kochi Police primarily uses Mahindra Invadors as its patrol vehicles. The force maintains nearly 100 such vehicles under brand- Kochi Control Room Vehicle (KCRV) fitted with advanced inceptor gadgets and wireless communications systems. Kochi is one of the few police force in the country to have a dedicated marine force with high speed inceptor power boats for regular patrols in backwaters and lakes along with countering any attack from sea. The force maintains 2 full steel heavy boats and 20 light fiber glass made power boats for fast hovering. The force maintains a strong team of armored vehicles for any anti-riot/sabotage operations. All motor vehicles are placed under Motor Wing with its main office at Armed Reserve Offices
Anti Sabotage Armored Vehicles
Janamithiri[5] (meaning- Friends of Public in Malayalam) policing is an award winning initiative of Kerala Police, first experimented with Kochi City Police. The main feature of the initiative is to create a Police-Public interface and ensure various plans and methods to keep crimes at lowest with support of public at lowest grassroot level. The highlight is ensure maximum participation of general public into day-to-day activities of police and create a permanent mechanism for constant interactions with public. Policing in India , due to its colonial legacy, has primarily restricted itself to an autocratic style of functioning wherein the functions of the police were primarily negative, aimed at catching criminals and to exercise fear among the citizens, so as to prevent crime. Janamaithri is one such major initiative aimed to reduce the negative image attached to police by public and build up a positive brand of Kerala Police.
Kochi City Police was selected as nodal unit for implementing the project and ensure its success. Kochi City police introduced the following schemes to ensure maximum success of the programs
Under this scheme, Kochi police have listed 41 resident associations. A team nominated by the resident associations is trained by Kochi city police with a standard three day module covering various methods in anti-sabotage, anti-theft, counter-attack methods etc. Such teams will take a regular night patrol in their locality as well as ensure co-operation from nearby trained security guards. A resident association patrol team will get a dedicated blackberry mobile for faster communication with nearby alloted police station. A police constable is alloted to monitor progress of each patrol team. By this way, to a greater extend, thefts and anti-social activities occurring at late night was able to prevent.
Kochi city police have ensured all authorized security agencies to register their private security team members with police. Each member of private security agencies will undergo advanced training in various operations helping them assist police force in case of necessity. A network among private security agencies and co-ordinating team is maintained to ensure maximum inter-agency and inter-agency-police communications take place for effective action.[6]
The programme involves 3 major steps. The primary step is for effective Drug Enforcement involving stringent police raids, collection of intelligence. Conducting anti drug awareness campaigns classes in educational institutions through seminars, pamphlets, exhibitions of photos and posters, Anti-Drug Runs etc. The police maintains a toll free hotline number 9846455500, for public to pass on information about presence of such drugs, drug addicts or sellers.
Kochi Police also maintains 5 rehabilitation centers for de-addiction of victims. For first time offenders, cases are not registered, rather send to such rehabilitation centers for counselling and treatments.[7]
Under this scheme, tourists and foreigners can get one stop services for any Janamaitry marked police station, where they have a services of dedicated police officer. Tourists and foreigners can get any information related to city, complementary maps, bookings assistance for regular means of public transport, handling private complaints against any miscreants or even travel documents assistance.
Janamaithri Helpline is a 24 hour service provider from Kochi Police, giving telephone numbers on demand, which are useful to the public. It will be having Customer Care Executives providing service round the clock. Any public informations or telephone numbers of public utility services, important persons are given on behalf of Janamaithri Helpline, while calling to the service number - 0484 4044333.[8]
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