NEW DELHI:Honorary Special Police Officers, informally called the “conduits” of Station House Officers (SHO) for collecting ill-gotten money, will be back in action in the capital. Months before retiring, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi has revived the appointment of Honorary Special Police Officer (SPOs), which was abolished by former Delhi Police chief Y S Dadwal in 2010.
Interestingly, Bassi went against the decision of a few Special Commissioners of Police over reviving SPOs. Some top officers objected to SPOs stating that most SHOs Assistant Commissioners of Police exploit them for doing their “dirty jobs”.
Bassi went ahead and asked Senior Special Commissioner of Police Vimla Mehra to find ways to revive the decades-old practice. Mehra issued on order on September 22, a copy of which is with The Sunday Standard. It stated, “This headquarters order… dated 10.02.2010 vide which the operation of Standing order … regarding appointment of Honoury Special Police Officer was withheld, is hereby withdrawn.” It further noted: “This has approval of Commissioner of Police, Delhi.”
Mehra directed that Additional Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police serving in districts may appoint SPOs as per guidelines. The tradition of appointing SPOs began started on November 27, 1989, when IPS officer Raj Vijay Karan was Delhi Police chief.
Dadwal cancelled the appointments on February 10, 2010, following several complaints that SHOs and IPS officers were exploiting SPOs; some of them had even appointed their kin and friends as SPOs. “Many cases of corruption came to light, following which the idea of appointing special officers was phased out,” said a senior police officer.
Technically, local residents are made SPOs to bridge the gap between police and residents and to help police in maintaining law and order and to gather intelligence. These officers were given Delhi Police identity cards, reported directly to senior officers and were called to attend law and order meetings.
A debate has begun in Delhi Police Headquarters on what prompted Bassi to revive the concept. Sources said that Bassi restarted the practice to help a lower-rank retired police officers who were close to him when they were in service.
WHAT’S THE ROLE?
■ SPOs are conduits of SHOs for collecting ill-gotten money
■ Delhi Police chief Bassi has revived their appointment, which was abolished by former Delhi Police chief Y S Dadwal in 2010
■ SPOs are locals who help police in maintaining law and order and to gather intelligence
■ They were given Delhi Police identity cards and reported directly to senior officers