Experts Call for Preventive, Sensitive Policing at Women's Safety Conference
Experts at a national conference in Bengaluru called for preventive policing and better workplace facilities for women police personnel to improve women's safety.
Women police personnel serve as the crucial link between the force and the public, and addressing their workplace concerns is essential for building a more sensitive and effective policing system, former Karnataka Director General of Police Raghavendra H. Auradkar said on Thursday.
Delivering the keynote address at the third National Women's Conference on Safety and Security 2026 in Bengaluru, Mr. Auradkar, now Chairman and Administrative Member of the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, said women personnel from constables to inspectors require improved facilities and institutional backing. He called for dedicated restrooms, safe transport for night-shift workers, access to mental health counsellors, periodic health check-ups, and stronger mechanisms to address sexual harassment in both public spaces and workplaces.
Mr. Auradkar also urged police agencies to shift from reactive policing to preventive safety measures, including regular safety audits of public places, public transport, educational institutions, and workplaces. He suggested exploring an integrated women's safety model similar to the Telangana Police's Bharosa initiative, which brings multiple support services under one roof.
The two-day conference, held at the Senior Police Officers' Research and Training Institute on Magrath Road, is themed "Gandhiji Revisited: Women's Safety & Security in Free India – Deepening Sensitivities."
Responding to the concerns, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the city police had already introduced welfare measures including mental health counselling, mobile toilets, and regular health check-ups for personnel. He said the remaining issues would also be examined.
The first day featured discussions on workplace safety and the use of technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve women's safety. Experts said AI could assist in early intervention, evidence collection, and policing, but stressed that technology must complement, not replace, a victim-centric approach.
During a panel discussion on the gap between reporting and conviction in crimes against women, Public Prosecutor Shailaja Nayak said police file charge sheets in nearly 75–85% of cases, while convictions often fall to 15–20% during trial. She attributed the low conviction rate largely to pressure faced by victims and stressed the need to protect survivors while balancing the right to freedom of speech. Ms. Nayak said she had handled around 60 sexual assault cases, of which only three ended in conviction, two lapsed, and the rest were still on trial.
Pratima Jagadeesh, Founder and Director of Crecers Academy, said the larger challenge was not the absence of laws but a lack of awareness and poor coordination between departments. Women and juvenile rights advocate Anjali Ramanna, founder of Astitva Legal Trust, said she had dealt with 18 dowry harassment cases, of which 13 involved IT employees, underscoring that violence against women cuts across professional and social backgrounds.
During a session on police reforms, S. Savitha, DIGP and Additional Commandant General, Home Guards, and Ex-Officio Deputy Director of Civil Defence, said molestation accounted for the highest number of reported crimes against women, with 4,262 cases. The other four categories among the top five were cruelty by spouse, violations under the Dowry Prohibition Act, rape, and dowry deaths.
The inaugural session was attended by former DGP Dr. Jija Harisingh, DGP and IGP Dr. M.A. Saleem, CID DGP Dr. Pronab Mohanty, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh, and other dignitaries. The conference will continue on Friday with further thematic discussions and solution-oriented sessions.