Jeedimetla Police Station gets ISO 9001:2001

The Jeedimetla Police Station under the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate limits near here has bagged the ISO 9001:2001 certification, an indication of the efforts being underway to make the 3,000-strong police force community-centric and responsive to people's needs.

This is for the first time in the country that a police station has been awarded a quality standard certification.

According to Cyberabad police commissioner M Mahender Reddy, all the 50 police stations and outposts operational under the Cyberabad limits will strive for the ISO certification in the next six months.

Reddy's efforts to bring about a culture change in the police force to suit the atmosphere of a metropolis for the past two years are finally bearing fruits.

The area was once known for its high crime rate. Today, the entire scenario has changed. Female workers engaged in night shifts are no longer scared to walk back home after duty hours. Also, any incident of eve-teasing or harassment is immediately brought to the notice of the police.

"It is not just better manners that the police personnel in the Jeedimetla Police Station have adopted that is alone responsible for this change. It is also due their responsiveness to attend to any problems in a much quicker and effective manner," G K B Chowdary, managing director of Vasant Chemicals Limited and the Jeedimetla Common Effluent Treatment Plant, told Business Standard.

Chowdary was actively involved in helping the Jeedimetla police become eligible for an ISO certification by offering consultancy and training support.

Chowdary's contribution is an example of the conscience involvement of people from all walks of life in bringing about a change. "When the police commissioner first came to meet me, I was wondering what crime I had committed. But when he requested for my help in his endeavour, I was more than happy," he said.

The industry-police partnership in bringing about a qualitative change in the performance and attitude of the police machinery is not new.

Software giants like Infosys, Microsoft, GE Capital, Dell and a host of other institutions have been extending their support by offering computer training and soft skills to the police personnel besides providing computers to the police stations.

According to Reddy, Infosys alone has provided computer training to over 300 police personnel under the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate limits.

"So far, companies like Infosys and Microsoft have donated over 1,000 used-computers to our police stations. With their support, each of our police stations is going to have a minimum of 10-12 systems. Very soon right from the constable to the station house officer (SHO) "� all will be able to work on a computer," he said.

Jeedimetla Police Station has set over 90 standard operating procedures (SOPs) to deal with all kinds of crimes and other law and order issues.

"The ISO certification has thrown a greater challenge. The team has to become more and more community-centric besides improving its performance to retain the certificate," he said.