Gandhinagar, June 2 (IANS) The Gujarat Police on Tuesday established a Public Relations Centre at Police Bhavan in Gandhinagar to provide a single-window mechanism for citizens seeking redressal of complaints and representations, with officials saying the initiative is aimed at improving transparency, accountability and public trust in the police system.

The centre was launched under the guidance of Director General of Police (DGP) K. L. N. Rao and is tasked with receiving complaints, applications and public grievances, coordinating with police units across the state and ensuring that matters are addressed within a defined timeframe.

Rao visited the facility to review its functioning and said the initiative was intended to strengthen the connection between citizens and the police administration.

“The Public Relations Office is not merely a centre for receiving citizens’ applications. It is an effective medium for reflecting the Gujarat Police’s spirit of ‘Security, Service and Trust’. Our priority is that every ordinary and poor person who walks up the steps of this office should return with hope and satisfaction of justice,” he said.

He added that district-level police authorities had been instructed to accord priority to applications received through the Public Relations Office and work towards their swift resolution.

According to officials, the centre was introduced to address a common problem faced by citizens who previously had to visit multiple offices to pursue their grievances.

Under the new system, all complaints are channelled through a single point of contact and processed in a structured manner. The procedure begins with the registration of visitors’ details at the reception desk.

Citizens are provided with an environment designed to facilitate a comfortable and stress-free hearing of their concerns. Senior officers then meet applicants in person, listen to their representations and record the details of their cases.

All complaints and representations received through the centre are formally registered and forwarded to the relevant district or city police unit, or to the concerned branch, for appropriate action.

Field units are required to submit reports within a stipulated period, following which the matter is examined and placed before senior officers for further review and decision-making.

The centre also operates a two-tier feedback mechanism. Detailed feedback forms are collected both at the office and district levels to assess service delivery, while applicants are contacted by telephone and informed about developments in their cases.

Officials said that since operations began in February, most of the complaints received by the centre have been resolved promptly and accurately.

One case highlighted by the department involved Bhavnagar resident Jigarbhai Bhatt, who approached the Office seeking assistance.

Following prompt follow-up by the office and support from Police Inspector Palak Patel and Police Sub-Inspector M. J. Patel, the applicant was facilitated a meeting with IPS officer Amita Vanani.

The accused in the case was subsequently arrested, and the grievance was resolved.

Another applicant, Nareshbhai Dulera from Sanand, described the service as “a ray of hope for justice for ordinary people” and called it “an excellent initiative launched in the public interest”.

Police officials said the Public Relations Centre is intended not only as a complaint-receiving facility but also as a mechanism to strengthen communication and trust between citizens and law enforcement authorities.

The initiative seeks to ensure that complaints are handled through a transparent process, while enabling applicants to track the progress of their cases and receive regular updates from the police administration.

–IANS

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