Thiruvananthapuram: The state police have decided to convert selected police stations in the state as child-friendly police stations. In the initial phase, six police stations are being made children friendly - Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam East, Kadavanthara in Kochi, Thrissur East, Kozhikode Town and Kannur Town. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will formally launch the new initiative at Fort police station here on Tuesday. According to a statement from police headquarters, the new initiative is part of the Children and Police (CAP) scheme of the state police.
It is the first of its type in the country. IG Ernakulam-range Mr. P Vijayan, who is the nodal officer of the project, said that the children friendly police station in a district would serve as a resource centre for children related matter of all other police stations in the district. Apart from setting up children friendly ambiance, the children friendly police stations would be also provided awareness books on laws and rules pertaining to children's safety and protection. All police personnel of the selected police stations were imparted two-day training under UNICEF's Our Responsibility to Children programme. A child welfare officer will be appointed in all police stations. The CAP scheme is being initiated on with the support all agencies involved in protection of children.
