Pune cops to set up SHE teams for women’s security

Pune: Following in the footsteps of Hyderabad police model to reign in road romeos, the Pune city police will also establish Security For Her Ensured (SHE) teams at every police station to curb crime against women in public places. 

Plain clothes cops will record activities on spycams and first-time offenders will be counselled in front of their family members.

As per the plan, each SHE team will have four members. It will be led by a police sub-inspector rank officer and include two male constables and one female constable. The divisional ACP will control these teams. which will work under supervision of zonal DCPs and regional additional commissioner of police. 

According to officials, SHE teams will instil confidence in women to speak up against offenders so that their safety is not compromised. 

Another important objective is to act as a deterrent to the occurrence of more serious crimes by nipping the problem in the bud.

For example if an offence committed under section 509 IPC (word act or gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman) is not curbed, it could embolden the offender to commit a more serious offence. SHE teams will counsel misguided youths and make them aware of the consequences of teasing women which may seem heroic to them. SHE teams will do round-the-clock surveillance of the city by mapping out ‘hotspots’  and ‘hot timings’, where offenders pounce on unsuspecting victims. Also women will be able to approach SHE teams through phone calls, email, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

Pune Police Additional CP (Crime) Ashok Morale told Sakal Times, “We are in the process of forming SHE teams, which will work in collaboration with existing Damini Squad. The manpower is being identified and soon the teams will be set up at the police station level.”

Maharashtra Police adopt SHE team concept
The State Government has instructed the police units to replicate SHE team concept of Hyderabad Police to curb crime against women in public places. The Pune rural police adopted this concept in 2016 and formed Nirbhaya Teams. 

Aims of SHE teams 

• To  curb eve-teasing.
• To nab offenders who harass women through phone calls, texts, e-mails, social media, etc. 
• To help women to get timely police help and go about their work without fear. 
• To act as a deterrent to the occurrence of more serious crimes.
• To correct misguided youth and make them aware of the consequences of their behaviour. 
• SHE team members work in civil dress  and carry discreet (spy) cameras to record activities and keep the evidence for ‘counselling’.