Telangana police to study policing in New York, London

A team of police officials from Telangana will soon visit New York and London to study their policing methods as part of the efforts to modernize the force in the new state, including Hyderabad.

Home Minister N. Narasimha Reddy Thursday said the officials would undertake the visit after the current Ramadan and Bonalu festivals. The minister also plans to join the team if permitted by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao.

The home minister said as New York and London made wide use of CCTVs to control crime, the government planned to install 2,000 such cameras in Hyderabad.

He said the government would implement all decisions including changing the colour of the uniforms. The finance department has also cleared the procurement of 1,600 Innova vehicles for the police force. The vehicles will be equipped with GPS system, 4G internet, laptop, wireless and fire fighting system.

As per a decision taken last month by the chief minister, Hyderabad police personnel will shed their khaki uniform and don one in blue, akin to the United Nations security personnel.

The chief minister at a review meeting also decided to provide ultra-modern equipment and vehicles for better policing. He wanted the city police force to become as professional a force as the New York City police and the London police.

The government has also requested the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) to undertake a study of the existing setup and suggest suitable changes.