Force strained as 1,500 cops deployed for court escorts

Experts call for return to virtual appearances implemented during Covid pandemic

- ABDUL NAZER M A @Kochi

THE Kerala Police force, already grappling with a severe shortage of personnel, is facing an unsustainable burden as nearly 1,500 officers are deployed every day solely to escort undertrial prisoners to courts and hospitals.

The practice, which was temporarily modernized during the Covid pandemic through widespread use of video conferencing, has largely reverted to "outdated" physical escort procedures—raising concerns over resource wastage and missed opportunities for digital reform, according to senior police officials.

They said an average of 80 personnel are deployed daily from each of the state's 20 police districts, many drawn from district headquarters camps, for escort and protection duties both within and outside their home districts.

"Even without accounting for rural courts, Kochi city alone has around 15 functioning courts. Escorting the accused to and from these courts every day requires at least 50 to 60 police personnel," said an assistant sub-inspector with the Kochi City Police.

In districts housing central jails, such as Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur, the numbers climb further, with 80 to 100 personnel tied up daily.

These deployments include long-distance escort duties to courts in other districts and often involve multiple hearings per accused individual.