Goa Police has made steady progress by adopting various steps to change its motto from being a force to a service. Field Marshall Kitchener has stated that “THERE IS A GREAT CIVILIZING POWER IN POLICEMEN”. A power, by which, he can make an impact on the society to the extent that he can be instrumental in changing the society.If one goes through the history of Indian Police, there are many instances where Policemen in the line of duty have favourably contributed in bringing about a change in the society.
8th June is a very significant date in the history of Goa, as it symbolises the transfer of authority from Military Administration to Civil Administration 43 years ago. Police is a very important arm of the Civil Administration, thus Goa Police celebrates this week as Goa Police Day and the entire week as Goa Police Week.
During the week, utmost priority has been assigned to development of police community relationship and programmes like plantation of trees in close cooperation with the Forest Department, seminars & meetings for educating the public on road safety & crime prevention awareness etc are conducted. These symbolise our commitment to service, before self while performing our responsibilities in a straight upright and professional manner within parameters of law with utmost transparency without having any fear, favour or prejudice.
THE DEPARTMENTS
CID: The criminal investigation department (CID) was set up in July 1966 following B Shetty’s recommendations. It is headed by a DIG of Police, who is assisted by a Supdt. of Police, DYSPs, Police Inspector, Police Sub-inspectors and constables.
A Special Branch of CID was also created in 1966 to perform special intelligence functions and has political, labour, youth & student, communal administrative and miscellaneous wings. The branch performs intelligence gathering function and is the eyes and ears of the department.
The Foreigners’ Branch was established along with the other CID branches in 1966. Its functions relate to registration of foreigners, extension of their visas, Indian citizenship applications, enforcement of the provisions of the Foreigners’ Act etc., keeping track of death/missing reports of foreigners and various other matters pertaining to foreign nationals. The importance of this branch is evident from the fact that thousands of foreign nationals visit the state as tourists.
The Immigration Branch takes care of the immigrants, both at Airport and Seaport and controls the immigration formalities to and from Goa. The Branch is headed by a DYSP assisted by 2 Inspectors.
The Crime Branch was set up in 1966 to help the police investigate important cases that need scientific and specialised aid. The services of a scientific aids unit, a dog squad and a research unit for the study of crime statistics were made available to the Crime Branch. Now, records of crime and criminals have been systematised and dossiers available with updated details.
Research Unit (RU) under CID is established and undertakes compilation of voluminous data from various police stations, etc and analyses the same and provides crime trend and vital clues to the field units so that they can take appropriate action.
The Dog Squad has gained much publicity for its excellent contribution in investigating crimes. The creation of a dog squad had been recommended by B Shetty but it came into existence much after 1966. The squad was strengthened in 1993 with the creation of additional posts of one ASI, two PCs, one PC (sweeper) for North Goa and one ASI, six HCs and one PC (sweeper) for South Goa. The ASI is the dog trainer and the HCs are dog handlers; the others are followers. The dog squad is used for tracing narcotics and explosives and tracking criminals. The dogs also lend colour to functions such as police parades where they perform with grace and win the hearts of the viewers.
The Anti-corruption Branch tackles the cases of corruption in public places. It deals with cases of moral turpitude, assets disproportionate to the known sources of income and with government employees who are under a cloud of suspicion for corrupt practices. The ACB is a very crucial unit of the CID and works in tandem with the Vigilance Department of the Government of Goa.
The Anti-narcotics Cell plays a major role in the timely control of the spread of narcotics in society in Goa. The hippie culture that came to Goa in the early seventies is thankfully gone by, but it has left behind the menace of drugs and drug peddlers – both Indian and foreign. Once, excise and customs officials had to tackle the menace but they could do so with little success, primarily because the penal provisions were weak. With the coming in 1985 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, a special anti-narcotics cell was created in the Goa Police to tackle the crime. The ANC also led to the establishment of a special court to try NDPS cases. The cell has helped contain the menace to a large extent. It is declared as a independent Police Station and functions from the Headquarters.
Security Unit This unit takes care of VIP security and provides personal security officers to the protected persons and also coordinates security arrangements during the visits of VIPs and other dignitaries including the Prime Minister and the President of India. This unit is headed by a SP and is assisted by DYSP and a PI.
Motor Transport Section This section controls the Motor Transport requirement of the Goa Police and deals with procurement, maintenance, overhauling and servicing of all vehicles from cranes to 2-wheelers of the Department. The unit is headed by a Police Inspector assisted by Sub Inspector and mechanics.
Goa Reserve Police This is the Reserve Police Batallion consisting of Police Force used as striking reserve for tackling law and order situations and to meet the needs of guards to the various installations and VIPs including Raj Bhavan the official residence of the Governor of Goa. This unit is headed by a DYSP assisted by PI. The Band Section of Goa Police is part of Reserve Police and is headed by a ASI and has a full complement of musicians and brass instruments.
Escort Cell This cell is entrusted with the function of escorting prisoners and undertrials from various judicial lockups and Central Jail Aguada to the various courts within and outside Goa.
Traffic Cell The Traffic Cell manages the flow and control of traffic in Goa and is located at 6 places namely Panaji, Mapusa, Ponda, Margao, Curchorem and vasco. Each Unit is headed by PI/PSI and they report to DYSP Traffic at Panaji. The Traffic Police is headed by SP Traffic. There is a Traffic Education Cell located at Panaji which compiles the traffic related statistics and also takes care of the traffic related education and awareness campaigns and conducts various lectures and demonstrationsfor the benefit of general public and school children.
Women Police Station This is a notified independent Police Station located at old GMC complex and manned by lady staff under supervision of DYSP Crime setup exclusively to deal with crimes against women and other cases involving women. This is the newest addition to the Goa Police family.
Home Guard and Civil Defense This organisation is part of Police Force meant for auxiliary function of assisting the main Police Force by means of recruiting volunteers as Home Guards and they perform various functions at Police Station level and assist the Police in day-to-day functioning as well as during special occasion and law and order situations. The Civil Defense wing takes care of training of the citizens to react to the various emergencies like natural calamities, acts of war etc.
Welfare Cell looks after the welfare of the Police Staff by means of financial aid to the needy staff for medical treatment and other emergencies and also offers scholarships to the meritorious children of Goa Police staff. The Cell also organises various activities and medical camps etc for the welfare of the staff.
Police Consumers Co-operative Society is a registered society which operates from the Police Quarters at Altinho and acts as a point of availability for various consumer goods and food ration for the Police Staff at no profit no loss basis. The Goa Police Staff Credit Co-oprative Society is also functioning from the Headquarters and is registered as a cooperative credit society and gives loans for purchase of consumer durables to the Goa Police Staff on easy terms at co-operative rates.
Tourist Police: Goa, being among the most popular tourist destinations of the world, attracts more than a million tourists from across the globe and India, almost equalling the state’s total population! They arrive by air, rail, road or sea. To ensure them protection from anti-social elements and make their stay pleasant, a tourist police unit was created in 1990. The tourist police, besides ensuring law and order for the visiting tourists, also helps the tourism department in the implementation of provisions of the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1982 that governs tourism related activities in the state.
Communication and Wireless Section This is the important department which deals with the communication of the Police Department, both telephonic as well as wireless. This Department consists of the Wireless Section, the Cipher Division, the Workshop and various Wireless Stations spread over Goa attached to various Police Stations and units. The Unit is headed by a DYSP who is a Technical Officer. The Police Control Room is part of this unit and functions at both the District Headquarters that is Panaji and Margao.
Police Training School: A Police Training School (PTS) was established in 1962 in Valpoi in north Goa to impart training to police personnel in Indian laws and procedures. The PTS has come a long way since then and it also now trains excise and forest personnel as well as jail guards. It is headed by a police officer of the rank of SP. The school as of now trains constabulary while the higher ranked officials are sent for to other states so that they can get specialized training.
