WOMEN POLICE

To increase the operational effectiveness and efficiency of policing the representation of women in law
enforcement has become very critical. This is more evident with the increase in the magnitude of crimes, the
increasing involvement of women in crimes, both as victims and accused, changes in social conditions,
growing juvenile delinquency and domestic violence. When women participate in law enforcement, at all
levels and in all roles, law enforcement is more responsive to, and reflective of, the community it serves.
The meaningful participation of women in law enforcement increases operation effectiveness, enhances
community trust, and decreases corruption.

In India, the need for women police was first felt during the labour strike, which took place in Kanpur, in
1938.The State of Travancore also experimented with the appointment of women in as Special Police
Constables in the year 1933, where one women head constable and twelve women police constables were
appointed. Due to the partition and all the after effects of it, a number of women organizations cropped up
which needed women police. Due to riots, atrocities on women, kidnapping, abduction and other sex
offenses, it was thought to increase the number of women in police. The Delhi Police force was the first to
recruit police women on a regularly basis in 1948. The first woman IPS officer was appointed in 1972.

The role of women in the police in India has been steadily increasing. The Prevention of Children from
Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and major criminal laws now require every case of sexual assault to be
recorded and investigated by a female police officer. The arrest of a woman and searching a woman must
be done by a woman only. Even juvenile delinquents are believed to be best handled by the women
police officers as they are more compassionate and communicative with children. Further, the police are
required to deal with varied situations of public order involving women, ranging from outrage generated
from incidents of brutal sexual assault on women to the terror unleashed by women insurgents.

Inspite of the Government of India’s commitment to increase women in law enforcement they make up only
7.28% of India’s police force. Of these women, 90% are constables, while less than 1% hold supervisory
positions. The numbers are low despite 20 states having reservations for women in the police. Even after
they make it to the police force, women run into hurdles. They are likely to face gender bias and report high
levels of job dissatisfaction.

The tilted gender ratio in the police force has not gone unnoticed. Representation of women was addressed
for the first time in the 2006 Model Police Act which called for “adequate gender representation in the
composition of the police service” and required “each police station to have a Women and Child Protection
Desk staffed, as far as possible, by women police personnel, to record complaints of crimes against women
and children and to deal with the tasks relating to administration of special legislations relating to women
and children”. A Second Committee constituted in 2013, looks at the issue of diversity and gender equality
in police forces. New laws relating to sexual crimes against children and women were passed in 2012 and
2013 respectively, giving exclusive functions to women police in the registration of complaints and
recording of victim statements.

The Parliamentary Committee on the Empowerment of Women has taken up the issue of women in policing
in 2012 and 2013 and made several significant observations and recommendations. The National Conference
for women in police has repeatedly stressed the need for increased representation of women and
recommended several measures including 33% reservation, special recruitment drives, a common cadre for
men and women, and better facilities for women.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised state governments repeatedly to recruit at least 33% women to
the police force. Many states have a reservation policy for women ranging from 15% (Uttarakhand) to 35%
(Telangana). Even then, these targets have not been met and the states which had implemented reservations
long ago only have about 12% women. Maharashtra has had a reservation policy (30%) in place since 1971,
but women police are barely pushing 10% of the force.

According to the Bureau of Police Research and Development Report (1975), the principal duties performed
by women police in India are:

• Helping in the investigation of crimes involving women and children.

• Providing assistance to the local police in tracing missing women and children

• Recovering minor girls from brothels and escorting them to rescue homes, courts and hospitals.

• Recovery of women and girls involved in abduction and kidnapping cases.

• Search and escort of women offenders.

• VIP and security duties

• Work relating to women passengers at airports and search for their person and belongings

• Providing assistance to local police in evacuating women and children from disturbed areas and
emergencies.

• Maintaining order in women meetings and processions.

• Dealing with women agitators and labour troubles in which women are involved.

• Looking after women and children in fairs and places of worship and in festivals.

• Guiding women passengers at big railway stations and important bus stands in large towns and cities.

• Helping children cross the road near school

Studies from different countries show that the presence of women police correlates positively with reporting
of sexual assault, which confirms that recruiting women is an important component of a gender-responsive
justice system. A rise in the number of policewomen has been correlated with a decline in rates of domestic
abuse and intimate partner crime.

Women police use less physical force, are better in defusing violent confrontations with the public and are
less involved in the use of excessive force. Policewomen are less likely to have allegations of excessive
force against them, and their presence can reduce the use of force by other police officers. They also possess
better communication skills than their male counterparts and are better able to elicit the public’s cooperation
and trust.

There are several structural challenges to women joining and rising up the ranks in the police force. The
reasons range from inherent societal attitudes to women in general vis-a-vis the notion of police force being
an utterly male domain to policy level hurdles such as recruitment process, promotion and retention to even
the lack of most basic facilities such as toilets, housing, maternity and child care policies and facilities. T he
lack of appreciation from their male counterparts, the problem of sexual harassment, gender role
stereotyping and support from family, groups and communities are other problems, though not exhaustive,
faced by women in police force.

The structural barriers need to be broken down to make women an integral part of police force through more
evolved policy measures and their effective implementation and monitoring, including police reforms.