Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Police is set to improve its operations by streaming investigations with dedicated personnel exclusively for crimes that are spiralling of late. Accordingly, the Kerala Government has given sanction to the police department for setting up separate wings for cybercrimes, economic offences as well as cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Separate wings are being created in view of the increasing number of such cases.

Police personnel who are adept in investigating such crimes will be appointed on a permanent basis in these wings.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan gave instructions to the authorities to implement the decision with immediate effect in the backdrop of the widespread criticism against the functioning of the police. Even the rank and file of the CPM recently flagged the shortcomings of the police.

The Chief Minister also gave green signal for creating 1,660 new posts in the police department. However, 225 posts in the police department would be wound up.

Cyber wing

The new cyber wing will investigate the cases registered in 19 cyber police stations apart from the cases registered in other police stations. Hereafter, the existing Cyberdome working under the police department will fully concentrate on cybercrime research.

An Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) would head the Cyber Investigation and Research Division (CIRD). An ADGP in the ex-cadre category will be appointed to this post.

A post of Inspector General (IG) too would also be created to man this wing.

A Superintendent of Police (SP), one each for northern and southern ranges, will also be appointed. In each district, there will be four ranges and a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) will be in-charge of each range. The total number of DySP posts to be created will be 827.

POCSO cases wing

Kerala is one of the States where a higher number of POCSO cases are reported. On an average 3,000 POCSO cases are reported from Kerala annually.

As many 28 POCSO courts will be set up in the State to deal exclusively with these cases.

An IG will be heading the POCSO investigation wing. The total posts in the wing would be 401.

Economic offences wing

The Economic Offence Wing will investigate cases such as online financial frauds and cheating of investors by various financial institutions.

The Crime Branch ADGP will head the new wing. An IG of Police will be posted at the Police Headquarters for looking after such cases. There will be two zones under the new wing and each zone will be led by a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police. The total post sanctioned is 432.

Rs 89cr additional cost per year

The additional expenditure to be incurred due to the creation of new posts will be Rs. 89 crore per year. An amount of Rs 10 crore will be saved by winding up 225 posts.

Posts such as Deputy Commandant of the District Armed Reserve Force, Assistant Commandant, Reserve Inspector, Mechanic, Painter and those of 100 personnel from the Disaster Management Force will be wound up.