The new instructions for formation of the all-women committees were circulated in the city on February 4 in the Mumbai Police’s daily notice after a proposal from the cell for protection of women and children against atrocities was cleared by the Home Department.

Special Inspector General of Police Shobha Ohatker, who heads the cell, said: “To deal with complaints of sexual harassment, it is already mandatory for every unit (district or commissionerate) to have a committee of women to probe any such allegations. However, the police lines (housing colonies) are an entirely different entity. Most of the times, women constables and officers are scared to report harassment against seniors as they fear they would be targeted.”

“That is why it was necessary to have a team of five women headed by a woman DSP for each police line to take up such complaints. These committees will probe complaints and file reports to the unit commander, who may be a SP or a Commissioner, who in turn will take necessary disciplinary action such as a departmental enquiry or criminal proceedings. The mere formation of such committees will have a psychological effect on the force,” said Ohatker.

The committees can take up anonymous complaints as well as probe allegations of harassment on hearsay from people known to the alleged victim.