Cops using phones on duty warned

The circular came on the same day as a judge of the Madras High Court raising the matter with the additional public prosecutor after noticing a policeman being engrossed in fiddling with his phone instead of managing traffic.

DGP Rajendran noted in the circular that many police personnel deployed on official duties have been using mobile phones frequently despite instructions. Excessive and unnecessary use of mobile phone by police personnel while on duty was interfering with field duties. 

Needless to say that their minds are distracted from their official duties, which needs active attention for thinking and information processing for timely reaction, said the circular, adding that in field situations, the personnel have to fully concentrate on their work. Hence, police personnel must avoid usage of mobile phone while on field duty, the DGP added.

During bandobust duty, unless permitted by security scheme itself, in important areas, police personnel below the rank of sub-inspector, particularly those deployed in VIP bandobust, agitations of all kinds, festivals, traffic enforcement, must not be allowed to carry mobile phone with them, the circular said.

The DGP observed in the note that traffic regulation and enforcement was a very important duty that requires continuous visual attention for regulation of traffic, enforcement of traffic rules and identifying the violators. Any use of mobile phone would be a distraction, and traffic violations that take place would go unnoticed as the time window for intercepting offenders is very short.

The unit officers should ensure that instructions are communicated down the line, and added that non-compliance of the instruction should be dealt with severe disciplinary action.