KOCHI: The Police Department has decided to launch a State Police Training Centre for imparting training to policemen in security operations in coastal areas and at sea.
As per the proposal submitted by the police to the Home Department, a specialised marine police unit will be formed for maintaining surveillance and security along the State’s 580-km coastal belt.
According to a top official, currently, the Coastal Police do not have sufficient personnel to guard the Kerala coast.
‘A Specialised Police Unit’
“We are looking for a specialised police unit for marine enforcement activities, similar to the Indian Reserve Battalion that was formed with the support of the Central Government.
“At the proposed training centre, marine police and officials of the specialised unit will be imparted training in crackdown on narcotic smuggling, human trafficking, illegal immigration and infiltration. They will also be trained on search and rescue; on board search of fishing and merchant vessels; and sea swimming and scuba diving. Currently, marine police officials are trained by the Coast Guard. This year, some of the officials underwent training in scuba diving at the Indian Navy. As in the case of all the marine security agencies, the recruited members will be subjected to a year-long training programme,” said the official.
The location of the new marine training centre will be finalised based on availability of land and funds. Currently, there are eight coastal police stations in the State, which have been set up with the support of the Central Government.
Meanwhile, a dozen new coastal police stations are expected to start functioning by year-end.