If you don't know -- or even if you do, but keep your knowledge to yourself because you don't want to spend long hours at gloomy, officious police stations, wait for an ambitious proposal to bring you closer to the Delhi Police to come through.

And if it does, your new meeting ground with the police will be the Social Assistance For Everybody (SAFE) stations, to be located in each of the nine district police headquarters in Delhi. There, you can know more about the CrPC and IPC at the press of a button on computers, rather than having to flip though pages of heavy leather-bound books.

In a proposal sent to the Delhi PHQ earlier this month, and currently being perused by the men in khaki, Delhi Chief Secretary Omesh Saigal has pointed out the need to revamp the present method of policing. ``Police is activated only after a crime is committed. This is the incident-driven method of policing. The police must now adopt the problem-drive model. Prevention is always better than cure,'' says Saigal.

``These days the police deals with various issues like maintenance of law and order, security and `fear' of crime. Thus, there is little time left for detection of crime. Besides, police resources are scarce. The police can devote more time to investigations if their responsibilities are shared by the public and other agencies,'' adds Saigal, pointing out issues often raised by the Delhi Police.

Whether this new proposal will finally become a reality is anyone's guess. But Delhi Police Commissioner V.N. Singh told Express Newsline: ``We have circulated copies of the proposal to all the nine district DCPs so that the modalities for implementing it can be worked out as soon as possible. I agree 100 per cent with the concept of community policing. In fact, we ourselves are planning much more on the same lines.''

The proposal for SAFE stations, the chief secretary says, is an integration of several existing schemes like the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and Special Police Officers. The latter so far have delivered mixed results.

Each SAFE station is supposed to be located in the office of the respective district Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). One of the Additional DCPs, assisted by an Assistant Commissioner of Police from the public grievances cell, will oversee the functioning of the station. An inspector and two junior officers will manage the daily affairs. And a Special Police Officer (SPO) and Home Guards will comprise the rest of the staff.

About finances to arrange computers, furniture, telephones, pay salaries and publish related literature, Saigal has promised the Delhi government's assistance through a long-term plan.

The chief secretary says that his proposal will involve the public at a larger level. ``The SAFE station will reach out to the family, delinquents, drug addicts and involve organisations and social workers dealing with such problems.''

He adds: ``Individuals or resident welfare associations can come with any problem to the SAFE stations, where there will be directed to officials or people who can offer quick solutions, in case SAFE can't offer immediate remedies. An action taken report for each such interaction will ensure effectiveness.'' So watch out for SAFE.