Lucknow : In a major initiative aimed at strengthening women’s safety across the city, the Lucknow Police Commissionerate has restructured the existing Anti-Romeo Squads and introduced newly designated Women Safety Teams at every police station in the district.
As per directives issued by the Police Commissioner, each of these Women Safety Teams will be led by a Sub-Inspector and will comprise five members, including both male and female constables. The objective is to curb crimes against women and ensure a secure and empowering environment for women and girls, especially in public spaces.
Expanded Mandate & Structure
Unlike the earlier Anti-Romeo Squads that operated primarily around colleges and parks to prevent harassment, the new Women Safety Teams have been given a broader and more integrated role:
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Monitoring and patrolling public areas including schools, colleges, markets, bus and railway stations.
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Curbing not just eve-teasing but also drug-related activities, illegal substance sales near educational institutes, and responding swiftly to law-and-order issues.
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Collecting geo-tagged data from crime hotspots and conducting surveillance via CCTV networks.
Each team will be equipped with riot control gear, a four-wheeler vehicle, a body-worn camera, e-challan devices, and a dedicated CUG phone. Team in-charges will also be armed with a small weapon for emergency intervention.
Operational Details
The teams will operate six days a week, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, focusing on school/college timings and key public places. In emergencies, they will serve as Quick Response Teams (QRTs).
They will also carry out surveillance in plain clothes, particularly in sensitive areas such as coaching centers, malls, and marketplaces. Special focus will be laid on rural and peripheral institutions where monitoring has traditionally been lax.
Preventive and Legal Action
For first-time offenders involved in harassment or misconduct, the teams will conduct on-spot counseling and inform family members. Repeat offenders will face strict legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Gunda Act, including possible imprisonment.
Additionally, the teams can now register FIRs directly and pursue legal cases independently—something that was not part of the original Anti-Romeo Squad’s mandate.
Coordination and Oversight
Daily briefings will be conducted by Station House Officers (SHOs), and every evening the team’s activities will be reviewed. Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners of Police have been appointed as nodal officers to ensure monitoring, coordination, and standardised reporting.
Complaints will also be collected anonymously through complaint boxes in schools and colleges. Routine meetings will be held with educational institutions to build trust and ensure effective collaboration.
Commissioner’s Assurance
Lucknow Police Commissioner emphasized that this is not merely a name change but a complete strategic overhaul. The focus has shifted from moral policing to gender-sensitive, empowered, and responsive policing.
“Women and students should feel fearless while stepping out. Our teams are on the ground to ensure their safety and confidence,” the Commissioner said.
