Bengaluru: Increasing women’s representation in the police force and making gender-sensitive training a continuous process are essential to building a more inclusive and citizen-friendly policing system, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said on Tuesday, October 27.

Speaking at a joint roundtable conference on gender training for police institutions, Singh stressed the need to respect different freedoms and sensitise police personnel to the diverse needs of citizens. He said increasing the number of women in the force was a key step towards improving gender responsiveness in policing.

“Accept different freedoms of everyone, and sensitise the staff accordingly. The key solution is to increase the number of women staff,” Singh said while addressing the inaugural session of the conference titled Enhancing Gender Training for Police Institutions in India: Innovations and Lessons Learned.

The conference was organised jointly by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, and the Karnataka State Police at the Traffic Management Centre on Infantry Road. It brought together police officials and training experts from six states, along with representatives of the Bavarian State Police, to discuss approaches to gender-responsive policing and reforms in police training.

The discussions focused on strengthening institutional capacity, improving the way police personnel interact with citizens and ensuring that gender sensitivity becomes an integral part of routine policing.

Around 20,000 Bengaluru police personnel trained

Singh said approximately 20,000 Bengaluru police personnel, ranging from constables to inspectors, had undergone training over the past year. He acknowledged NLSIU’s contribution to the training initiative and emphasised the importance of continuing such programmes.

He noted that gender sensitivity cannot be treated as a one-time exercise. Refresher programmes are necessary to reinforce the principles learnt during initial training and ensure that they are reflected in everyday policing practices.

Police personnel routinely interact with people from different social backgrounds, including women and children who may face specific vulnerabilities when approaching law enforcement agencies. Training that addresses these differences can help personnel respond more appropriately to complaints, improve communication and build public confidence.

Singh’s emphasis on increasing women’s representation also highlighted the importance of diversity within police institutions. Greater participation of women in policing can strengthen the force’s ability to respond to a wider range of public needs, particularly in situations where complainants may feel more comfortable speaking to women officers.

However, improving representation requires sustained attention to recruitment, training and the working environment within police organisations. The commissioner called for a broader approach that combines a more diverse workforce with continuous efforts to sensitise personnel.

DGP stresses research and institutional cooperation

Delivering the keynote address, Karnataka Director General and Inspector General of Police M A Saleem highlighted the role of research, institutional cooperation and continuous training in improving police practices.

Saleem stressed the need to sensitise police personnel to the marginalisation experienced by women and children. Understanding these experiences, he indicated, is important for developing responses that are sensitive to the circumstances of those seeking assistance.

Gender-responsive policing involves more than awareness of laws and procedures. It also requires police personnel to understand how social inequalities and vulnerability can influence a person’s experience when reporting an offence or seeking protection.

Research can help police institutions identify gaps in existing training and develop programmes that address real-world challenges. Cooperation between police departments, academic institutions and training experts can also help introduce new approaches and assess whether training is producing meaningful changes in professional conduct.

NLSIU’s involvement in the conference reflects the role that academic institutions can play in supporting police reforms through research, structured training and exchanges of expertise.

The participation of officials from different states also provided an opportunity to discuss experiences and approaches that could be adapted to local policing requirements.

Conference brings together experts from six states and Germany

The roundtable brought together police officials and training specialists from six states, as well as representatives of the Bavarian State Police.

The participation of officials from different jurisdictions offered a platform to examine how gender-related issues are addressed in police training and institutional practice. Such exchanges can help identify useful methods, challenges and opportunities for collaboration.

The conference’s focus on innovations and lessons learned indicated an emphasis on sharing practical experiences rather than limiting discussions to policy principles.

Gender-sensitive training can cover a range of issues, including interactions with women and children, the handling of complaints, communication with vulnerable individuals and awareness of different forms of marginalisation. Its effectiveness depends on whether personnel can apply the learning during routine duties and in challenging situations.

Regular refresher sessions can reinforce these principles as officers move through different roles and responsibilities. They can also help institutions respond to emerging concerns and improve the consistency of their approach.

The conference provided a forum for police officials and training experts to consider how these efforts could be strengthened within police institutions across India.

Building a more inclusive and citizen-friendly police system

The remarks by Singh and Saleem placed workforce diversity, research and continuous learning at the centre of discussions on gender-responsive policing.

Increasing the number of women in the police force is one part of the broader challenge. Institutions must also ensure that all personnel understand the importance of treating citizens fairly, respecting individual freedoms and responding appropriately to the circumstances of women and children.

Training initiatives can support these goals by helping officers recognise different forms of vulnerability and examine how their conduct affects public trust. Continued engagement with academic institutions and specialists can further strengthen the design and delivery of such programmes.

The Bengaluru conference brought these priorities together by focusing on institutional reforms and practical lessons from different jurisdictions.

The key challenge for police departments will be to translate the discussions into sustained changes in recruitment, training and everyday professional behaviour. As Singh emphasised, gender sensitivity needs to be reinforced continuously if it is to become a regular feature of policing rather than remain a classroom concept.