Kerala’s police system and police stations will undergo a major transformation starting August 15, with the launch of a new initiative titled “My Police Station”, which is aimed at making the police force more accessible and accountable to the public, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said here. He was addressing a press conference here on Thursday (August 6, 2026).

Calling it a historic reformation of the Kerala Police, Mr. Chennithala said that the new initiative is a decisive step toward democratic policing that delivers better service to citizens.

As efficient and responsive local police stations are at the heart of this initiative aimed at people-friendly policing, from August 15, the responsibility of Station House Officers (SHOs) will be entrusted to sub-inspectors. This is a reversal of the previous government’s decision to appoint Circle Inspectors to the posts.

The Minister said that this change will give young male and female officers directly recruited to the posts of SIs, a greater sense of responsibility and sharpen their efficiency and decision-making abilities. Citizens should be able to feel that police stations are their own institution so that the concept of people-friendly policing will take stronger roots, he added

Thus, sub-inspectors will take charge as SHOs in 419 stations out of the State’s 484 law-and-order police stations. Notably, women sub-inspectors will become SHOs in 63 police stations across the State.

In 64 stations of strategic significance, police officials in the rank of Circle Inspectors will continue to serve as SHOs. Given the strategic importance of the Mullaperiyar dam, the SHO post at that station will remain with a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP).

Mr. Chennithala said that 200 police circles will be created under Circle Inspectors so that the newly appointed SHOs can be given the right guidance and be supervised.

Time-bound services

He explained that the primary goal of “My Police Station” would be to ensure citizen satisfaction by providing dignified, improved and time-bound services to everyone who approaches a police station. Another key objective would be to completely eliminate custodial crimes, including custodial deaths and custodial violence.

He said that no form of third-degree treatment against any individual would be tolerated.

Mr. Chennithala said that all new SHOs will undergo orientation training, and that all police station personnel would also undergo the same in a phased manner. Supervisory police officers, in the rank of Circle Inspectors and above, will also have to undergo training as their active involvement is necessary to ensure the efficient functioning of police stations.

He suggested that it was important for supervisory officers to maintain a good relationship with the public as well as those working under them. This will also help avoid unnecessary workplace stress, which has led to many unhealthy situations including suicides among the police force.

Tackling digital crime

Supervisory officers will also be trained to keep pace with technological changes to ensure better service delivery. With hi-tech crimes, loan app frauds and other cyber crimes on the rise, it is important to equip the police force adequately, upskill and update their technical knowledge, so that the police can deal with digital crimes more efficiently. The dedicated mechanism to handle cyber crimes, which is already functioning under the IG (Cyber Security) would be strengthened

Mr. Chennithala also said that community policing or Janamaithri police system launched in the State 20 years ago and which had proved to be efficient but had become perfunctory in manner, would be revived.

Feedback mechanism

He also spoke about an independent feedback system, with Range DIGs given the responsibility of collecting feedbacks from police stations under them and filing monthly reports to the Government

The ADGP (Law and Order) will be the coordinator for “My Police Station” and the State Police Chief will submit monthly progress reports to the Government.

Published - August 06, 2026 04:15 pm IST