Women travelling home late at night in Mumbai will soon have faster access to police assistance through the city's new 'Buddy Cop Squad' initiative. Introduced as part of Mumbai Police's zero-tolerance policy against crimes targeting women, the programme is designed to provide immediate support to women who feel unsafe while commuting after dark.
Under the initiative, every police station across Mumbai will form a dedicated Buddy Cop Squad comprising eight to 10 police personnel, including women officers, reports Mid-day.
These teams will be available around the clock to respond to emergencies involving women returning from late-night or graveyard shifts.
Mumbai Police clarified that the Buddy Cop Squads are an additional safety measure and will work alongside the existing Nirbhaya Squads, which will continue patrolling and responding to crimes against women across the city.
Each police station will create a dedicated WhatsApp group to connect with women in its jurisdiction. If a woman feels unsafe while travelling, she can:
The WhatsApp groups will be monitored 24x7, enabling the nearest available police personnel to quickly assess the situation and provide assistance. Women can also continue to use the emergency helpline 112 whenever required.
Senior Inspector Mahendra Shinde of Dindoshi police station said the initiative aims to reassure women that help from their local police station is just a message or phone call away.
The initiative is expected to support women employed in sectors that require late-night or overnight shifts, including:
Although the initiative received approval in May and implementation began in June, senior police officials have now instructed all police stations to step up awareness efforts so more women can access the service.
Police stations will promote the initiative through:
The objective is to familiarise women with the Buddy Cop Squad, explain how the service works, and encourage them to seek help whenever they feel unsafe.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Initiative | Buddy Cop Squads |
| Coverage | Every Mumbai police station |
| Team Size | 8–10 police personnel |
| Members | Women and male police officers |
| Communication | Dedicated WhatsApp groups |
| Availability | 24x7 monitoring |
| Emergency Helpline | 112 |
With dedicated response teams and real-time communication through WhatsApp, Mumbai Police hopes the Buddy Cop Squad initiative will make late-night travel safer and provide women with quicker access to assistance whenever they need it.
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