No mobile phone while on guard duty! New directives issued for Kerala Police
Thiruvananthapuram: Police personnel assigned to sentry and guard duties at police stations across Kerala have been banned from using mobile phones and electronic devices during their shifts. The order, issued by ADGP (Law and Order) P Vijayan, forms part of a fresh directive aimed at tightening station security and preventing custodial torture.
Under the new guidelines, sentries are explicitly instructed not to waste time chatting casually or lounging idly while on duty. Crucially, if a guard suspects or observes that a suspect or detainee in custody is being subjected to physical assault or third-degree methods, they must immediately report the matter directly to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) or the District Police Chief.
Key instructions issued to station guards
- Custodial safety: Guards must actively monitor the physical and mental health of detainees, ensuring that lockups are free of hazards that could allow suicide attempts.
- Night vigilance: Night duty must be treated with heightened security awareness. All visitors entering the station during these hours must undergo strict procedural screening.
- Fair treatment: Station officers in charge must ensure that all visitors reaching the police station are treated with courtesy and respect.
To implement these security measures effectively, the order mandates that three officers be assigned to manage the 24-hour guard rotation, replacing the current practice in many stations where only two officers share the workload. However, police personnel have raised concerns that this requirement will exacerbate existing staffing shortages at local stations.
District Police Chiefs have been directed to oversee station security directly and conduct surprise inspections to ensure strict compliance with the new protocols.