The Mumbai Police has introduced a new safety mechanism to help women travelling home late at night by creating dedicated Buddy Cop Squads at police stations across the city. The initiative will allow women to directly connect with local police personnel in case of emergencies or safety concerns.
As part of the programme, each police station will form a team of 8 to 10 officers, including women personnel, to assist women working late shifts. The squads will manage dedicated WhatsApp groups monitored round the clock, enabling women to share their live location, send alerts or request immediate police support while travelling.
The initiative, which was approved in May and began implementation in June, focuses on improving accessibility to police assistance for women employed in sectors such as healthcare, IT, BPOs, offices, malls and factories.
Senior Inspector Mahendra Shinde said the objective is to ensure women have a direct communication channel with their local police station through the 112 helpline and Buddy Cop teams whenever they require assistance.
Mumbai Police will conduct awareness campaigns through posters, banners and community outreach programmes to spread information about the initiative.
The Buddy Cop Squads will work alongside existing Nirbhaya Squads, continuing the city police’s efforts to enhance women’s safety and response systems.
Source: Mid-Day
