First anti-violence cell launched for women

Six Anti-Gender Crime Cells linked with this cell

LAHORE:

Lahore police have set up on Tuesday its first "Anti-women harassment and Violence Cell".

It has been established at Defence Area (B) police station. After the Minar-e-Pakistan Mob harassment case, then IGP Inam Ghani had issued orders to all the field officers to set up the anti-harassment cells across the province and appoint victim support officers to hear and address women victims’ problems.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ghulam Mahmood Dogar inaugurated on Tuesday cut the ribbon in presence of senior police officers including DIG Operations Sohail Chaudhary, CTO Muntazir Mehdi, SSP Operations Waqar Shoaib Qureshi, SP Headquarters Imran Ahmad Malik, SP Dolphin Squad Rashid Hayat, SP Cantt Sayyed, others and media persons.

Dogar on the day also visited different sections of the newly inaugurated Cell of PS Defence Area (B) and inspected the facilities provided at different desks.

The cell consists of four desks namely Monitoring Desk, Victim Feedback and Assistance Desk, Victim Support Desk along with Investigation and Prosecution Desk.

Read Violence against women: a crime, societal failure or mental illness?

The monitoring desk will be responsible for tracking down the history sheeters of the suspects involved in sexual violence and harassment cases.

Dogar said that like fourth schedulers, they will be asked to report on a regular basis to the cells.

It will also identify hotspots of sexual violence and harassment cases using a crime mapping system and women safety app.

Victim Feedback and Assistance desks will be responsible for the provision of guidance and assistance to the victims when requested through assistant helplines or in-person.

The victim Support Desk will be responsible for the assignment of a victim support officer in writing for every victim as soon as an FIR is registered. It will also serve to supervise the working of Women Help Counters at police stations.

The investigation and prosecution desks will be responsible for monitoring the quality and pace of investigations and assisting the investigation officers of the cases by facilitating the liaison.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15^th, 2021..