‘Zero Delay’ policing: Sajjanar orders nearest police team to respond immediately to crime scenes

Hyderabad: Stressing that criminals do not operate within administrative limits, Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar has asserted that police stations and commissionerate boundaries should never come in the way of crime control or victim support.

He directed officers to strictly implement a ‘Zero Delay’ response policy, ensuring immediate action the moment a crime is reported.

The Commissioner was addressing a high-level coordination meeting of the three city police commissionerates at the Telangana Integrated Command and Control Centre (TGiCCC), Banjara Hills, here on Wednesday.

Unified policing for a growing metropolis

Key issues discussed included law and order, crime prevention, traffic regulation and intelligence sharing in the rapidly expanding Hyderabad metropolitan area.

‘Police team closest to the crime scene must respond immediately’

Field officers informed the leadership that offenders increasingly exploit technology and jurisdictional boundaries, committing crimes in one commissionerate and fleeing into another. Sajjanar warned that any delay caused by jurisdictional confusion could allow criminals to escape.

“Whichever police team is closest to the crime scene must respond immediately, without waiting for jurisdictional formalities,” he said, instructing officers to eliminate communication gaps at the grassroots level.

Joint surveillance on habitual offenders

The CP directed the three commissionerates to maintain round-the-clock joint surveillance on rowdy-sheeters and repeat offenders, many of whom frequently change residences. He emphasised the need for real-time intelligence sharing and coordinated tracking to prevent crimes before they occur.

Traffic Regulation: One policy across the city

The meeting also took key decisions to ease traffic congestion:

- Uniform implementation of ‘No Entry’ timings for heavy vehicles across all three commissionerates

- Strict restriction of heavy vehicle movement during peak hours, with vehicles halted outside city limits

- Real-time coordination between traffic police at border junctions to synchronise signal timings

- Coordinated action to address traffic issues caused by private travel buses

- Simultaneous drives against violations

To prevent offenders from exploiting enforcement gaps:

- Joint weekend drunk-driving checks will be conducted simultaneously across all three commissionerates

- Citywide special drives will be launched for the recovery of pending traffic challans

‘Three commissionerates, one force’

“Criminals have no borders, and neither should the police. ‘Zero Delay’ response is our core principle. Though administratively separate, the three commissionerates must function as a single force with one goal: a Safe Hyderabad. With technology and coordination, we will not allow criminals to hide anywhere,” Sajjanar said.

Technology as a force multiplier

Cyberabad CP Avinash Mohanty, who was also present at the meeting, noted that Hyderabad’s rapid growth, particularly in the IT Corridor and Financial District, makes inter-commissionerate coordination crucial.

He said integrated CCTV networks and advanced policing technology can help track criminal movements in real time.

Rachakonda CP Sudheer Babu called for joint teams and continuous intelligence exchange, especially to monitor habitual offenders and curb drug trafficking and other anti-social activities.

The meeting, chaired by Sajjanar, was attended by Cyberabad CP Avinash Mohanty, Rachakonda CP Sudheer Babu, DCPs from all three commissionerates, and senior police officials.