Barrackpore police commissionerate are reaching out to people at their doorsteps to so that they can approach the men in uniform without hesitation when needed.

The project, named “Durare Police”, literally means police at the doorstep.

A senior officer attached with Barrackpore commissionerate said the idea behind the project was to bridge the gap between residents of the jurisdiction and their police stations.

“While reaching out to the neighbourhoods we are trying to make people aware about the frequent banking frauds, KYC frauds, ways in which fraudsters are using Facebook and WhatsApp to cheat people,” said an IPS officer.

Countless men and women, especially the elderly, are duped by tele-callers who impersonate bank officials. They fetch confidential data from account holders claiming that their ATM card is about to be blocked or by simply saying that they have won a lottery.

Under the programme, the police are also setting up camps in different locations under every police station and encouraging people to share their problems related to security, law and order and criminal activities in the area.

If the police come across a complaint that amounts to a cognisable offence, the cops at the camp are encouraging people to submit a written complaint at the spot itself so that the matter can be processed immediately.

Several people found the project unique as the police are often blamed for discouraging people from reporting their problems and sometimes, allegedly refuse to accept complaints citing one excuse or the other.

Barrackpore police jurisdiction covers around 270 square km adjoining Calcutta and has 18 police stations.

Each police station has been asked to conduct “Duare Police” camps at more than one location, an officer said.

Barrackpore police commissioner Manoj Verma has been monitoring the project and has visited several camps organised in the remote areas.

The police have taken a separate approach towards the urban pockets of the jurisdiction. “We are holding cyber awareness camps, bank fraud awareness programmes inside housing societies,” said an officer.