Concerned about the adverse impact on the health of police personnel due to long duty hours and heavy work load, the Haryana police has introduced 12-hour duty shifts system for them in all police stations in Haryana.
Currently, the duty shifts timing is 24x7 only with one day as weekly off. The new duty shifts timing will be implemented from April 1. Police personnel will complete their duty hours in two shifts and the shifts timing will be from 8 am to 8 pm. Similarly, the second shift will start from 8 pm to next day 8 am with the one day as weekly off.
“The duty shifts system was to be started a few months back but it could not be implemented due to the Jat stir as the force was pressed into service to maintain law and order in the districts” said ACP Manish Sehgal, the spokesperson of the Gurugram Police.
According to senior police officials, another major development is that in the absence of the Station House Officer (SHO), the additional SHO will look after the police station.
“When officers and constables go on leave or are absent, we face a manpower crunch. While the idea is good, it should be implemented earlier. Most of the employees in the police stations are already over burdened. It is a good move to improve work culture in 24 police stations in the city,” a senior police inspector said on condition of anonymity.
Besides, the sanctioned police staff in the cyber city is 4,922 and current strength of police personnel including traffic cops is 3,870. Around 1,052 cops still short in the department. At present around 1,281 police personnel deployed in all three zone police stations.
Another inspector on the condition of anonymity said, “Without a well-researched plan in place, the idea won’t be effective. If instead of 12 hours, we are made to work for eight, then we require working in three shifts instead of two. This means additional manpower is required.”
“We have informed the State Government about the shortage of the police personnel. We are sure that will get more cops very soon,” Sehgal said.
Recently the Gurugram police had opened a gym for the policemen in the commissioner of police office so that after their jobs they can do some exercise.
