Cabinet decides to form two police commissionerates

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to form two police commissionerates in the state.

The commissionerates would come up at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi with the police commissioners having magisterial powers.

"The home department will now be coming out with the specific guidelines about the powers and changes for the two cities,'' said chief ministerOommen Chandy after the cabinet meeting. The elevation in grade of both commissionerates means the commissioners in these cities will be officers in the rank of inspector-general of police.

Granting magisterial powers to top cops was a long-pending demand of the state police. There was no prompt action on the request by the police in this regard as there were strong opposition from the side of bureaucrats. Until now, the magisterial powers were vested only with the district collectors.

Having magisterial powers to city police commissioners would help the police execute detention warrants under the Goonda Act without delay and take immediate steps like opening firing to control riots.

The new Kerala Police Act provides for metropolitan police system in cities with population above 10 lakh. Hence the system is being introduced only in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi which meet the standard. The state police will have to issue a notification to bring the metropolitan system into effect.

Thiruvananthapuram: The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to form two police commissionerates same as the standards of metropolitan cities in the state. The commissionerates would come up at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi with the Commissioners having additional powers such as magisterial powers.

The home department will be now coming out with the specific guidelines about the powers and changes to come once the two cities are elevated to the status of commissionerates,'' said chief minister Oommen Chandy after the cabinet meeting. The elevation in grade of both commissionerates means the commissioners in these cities will be officers in the rank of Inspector Generl of Police.

Granting magisterial powers to top cops was a long pending demand of the State Police. There was no prompt action on the request by the police in this regard as there were strong opposition from the side of bureaucrats. Until now, the magisterial powers were vested only with the District Collectors.

Having magisterial powers to city police commissioners would help the police execute detention warrants under the Goonda Act without delay and take immediate steps like opening firing to face riots.

The new Kerala Police Act provides for metropolitan police system in cities with population above ten lakh. Hence the system is being introduced only in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi which meet the standard. The state police will have to issue a notification to bring the metropolitan system into effect.