Delhi Gets First Dedicated Women's Police Station: How It Will Work

Delhi on Friday got its first Women Police Station, with women of North Delhi now getting access to a dedicated facility for reporting crimes ranging from domestic violence and stalking to rape and child abuse.

The specialised unit in the Subzi Mandi area that will exclusively investigate crimes against women and children across the North District became operational on June 19 and has jurisdiction over the entire North District. The existing Crime Against Women (CAW) Cell has been merged into the new facility.

Officials said the station has been set up to provide a dedicated space where women and child victims can report crimes, seek assistance and pursue investigations in a more focused environment.

The facility, inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, will be predominantly staffed by women police personnel and is aimed at creating a more accessible and victim-focused environment for complainants.

The new unit will focus exclusively on crimes against women and children, bringing complaints, FIR registration and investigations under a single specialised setup.

Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Delhi Police's Special CP, Law & Order Devesh Srivastva said, "This police station was one of the first in Delhi so there is some amount of history to this place. The 1st FIR of Delhi was filed here. There are around 60 police personnel here, commanded by a lady officer. This police station will be taking care of cases regarding crimes against women in all of North Delhi," he added.

Shedding light on the police station, Inspector Rashmi Singh, the first inspector of the Mahila police station, told NDTV, "The aim of the station is driven to prevention, protection, prompt investigation and participation by continuous engagement of society."

"We encourage any woman to come up to us and seek redressal. We seek to provide a safe and comfortable environment for women to express themselves," she said.

From Domestic Violence To Rape: What Cases Will It Handle?

According to Delhi Police, the station will investigate all categories of crimes against women and children reported from North District.

These include:

• Domestic violence
• Dowry-related offences
• Sexual assault
• Molestation
• Stalking
• Harassment
• Rape
• Child-related offences and abuse cases

Officials said the station will function as the primary police unit for such offences in the district.

How Delhi Police Plans To Help Women Faster

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golchha said the force's approach to women's safety is based on four pillars- prevention, protection, prompt investigation and participation.

He said investigations in several rape and POCSO cases have been completed within 15 to 20 days, while convictions in some cases were secured within 10 to 40 days.

The commissioner highlighted a number of initiatives already in place across the city, including:

• Women Helpline 1091
• 116 Pink Booths across Delhi
• All-women PCR vans
• The "Shishtachar" campaign against stalking and sexual advances
• The "Sashakti" self-defence training programme

According to Delhi Police, more than three million women and girls have received self-defence training through various programmes.

Unlike existing Crime Against Women (CAW) cells that primarily handle dowry and matrimonial disputes, this Women Police Station functions as a complete, independent station. It has full authority to register FIRs, conduct investigations, and pursue prosecution across all stages. The station is staffed predominantly by women personnel, led by a woman Station House Officer (SHO). The team also includes an additional SHO and women duty officers.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sandhu said the effectiveness of the initiative should not be measured only by the number of cases investigated.

"The true success of the initiative would be measured not merely by the number of cases investigated, but by the confidence it inspires among women and girls."

What Changes For Women In North Delhi?

For women and child victims, the biggest change is access to a dedicated police station focused entirely on crimes against them.

Instead of approaching multiple units for different stages of a complaint, victims will now have a specialised facility that can handle reporting, investigation and support under one roof.

Officials say the model is aimed at making it easier for women to approach the police and pursue cases in a more supportive environment.

Will Other Districts Get Women Police Stations Too?

The North District unit will be closely watched as Delhi's first dedicated Women Police Station.

While Delhi Police has not announced similar stations in other districts, the launch marks a significant step in the capital's efforts to strengthen specialised policing for women and children.