KPOA calls for gender-neutral recruitment across police ranks

The Kerala Police Officers Association (KPOA) has called for gender-neutral recruitment across ranks in the police force, focusing solely on skills and qualifications to ensure equal opportunities and a diverse workforce. The association also suggested complete computerization of documents at police stations.

The KPOA emphasized the need to move away from the current practice of setting minimum targets for women’s representation and instead prioritize merit-based appointments. It was stated that such an approach would allow more women to join the force organically in the long run. Additionally, the existing policy of recruiting a significant number of women at the Sub-Inspector level was intended to be extended to the rank of Civil Police Officer.

The proposals received strong support at the State-level KPOA workshop held here. S. Ajeetha Begum, Inspector General of Police, Economic Crimes Branch, Directorate of Crimes and Social Policing, underlined the importance of expanding the role of women in the police force. He noted that greater representation of women would be in line with Kerala’s demographic profile, where women outnumber men, and the force could become more empathetic and compassionate.

KPOA State general secretary CR Biju, while making several demands in the programme, also called for an overhaul of the “archaic” writing style used in case diaries, First Information Reports (FIRs), chargesheets, remand reports and other legal documents. He emphasized that by keeping up with the changing times, one should move away from complex and long sentences and adopt a modern style that emphasizes clarity, brevity and conciseness.