Security of Chennai malls reviewed by top cops

In January this year, the city police officials met representatives of shopping malls and complexes at the commissionerate, advising them to enhance security arrangements as part of an awareness drive.

There was a visible and welcome change compared to the gathering held 10 months ago, where mall authorities were advised on various fronts including installing sufficient CCTV cameras and employing more able-bodied men as security guards, the police said.

“For instance, there has been a 30 per cent increase in the number of CCTV cameras installed at multiplexes. Express Avenue Mall at Royapettah has added 32 CCTV cameras to its inventory while Ampa Skywalk has added 20,” according to the official who said malls have also increased CCTV coverage area in parking lots.

A few complexes have also complied with the baggage scanner advisory and others were told to instal one as quickly as possible, the official added. As per the advisory, malls have also increased the strength of their security personnel by a good 15 per cent, the police said.

However, they are yet to provide details of security personnel involved in checking and frisking people with the local police station and have been advised to provide it.

On August 24, the police apprehended a 30-year-old man, P. Murugan of Kannigapuram, for chain-snatching; he had earlier worked as a parking attendant at a city mall. It turned out that he was a serial offender and it was imperative for employers to verify the antecedents of their employees, a senior police official said.