ALAPPUZHA: The Government is taking steps to make the policing system in the State more efficient and improve the working conditions of the police force, Minister for Home Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said on Thursday.

He was inaugurating the new Administrative Lane of the Alappuzha Armed Reserve Police Camp here.

Living conditions would be enhanced for policemen in barracks and battalion camps, Mr. Balakrishnan said. 400 sq. ft.-barracks would be constructed in nearby police stations, depending on the availability of land, he said.

The 70 police stations in the State that were operating from rented buildings would be provided with own buildings as and when land was available for the purpose, he said, adding that the efforts were to do away with the frustration of living in poor conditions that was plaguing policemen.

"I have wondered on several occasions whether the approach of the police to the public was an outcome of their frustration over being forced to live in pathetic conditions. With the exception of the Adoor AR Camp, facilities in all other battalions, barracks and AR camps are limited. We are taking steps to solve this."

Announcing that a Hyderabad-model community policing system would be introduced in all municipalities and corporations in the State in a year's time, the Minister said a high-level meeting would soon be convened to discuss improving traffic systems in cities.

The law and order and investigation tasks were being entrusted to separate wings of the police to enable them to function with more efficiency, hasten their response, intervene effectively and to complete investigations fast. This had already been done in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kochi and would be done in phases in other areas soon, he said.

Recalling his recent visit to the Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur Central Jails, the Minister said efforts were on to improve conditions in jails as well. A new central jail would soon be opened at Pathanamthitta, while an open jail would be opened at Cheemeni in Kasaragod district on May 17. The sub-jails at Hosdurg and Chittoor were completed, while plans were afoot to renovate the Alappuzha sub-jail as well.

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