Call for safety: Uttar Pradesh police to escort women travelling alone at late hours

Any unaccompanied woman, who is out on road during late hours could call a PRV to escort her by dialing 112, the emergency response service of UP police.

From Tuesday, December 10, Uttar Pradesh Police will drop women travelling alone late at night to their destination to ensure their safety. Police Response Vehicles (PRV) in Uttar Pradesh will now escort unaccompanied women to their destination between 10 pm and 6 am.

In this photograph taken on June 15, 2015, an Indian woman hails a cab at a business district in Mumbai. India published new guidelines for web-based ride-hailing firms including US-based Uber and its local rival Ola on December 16, 2015, after months of legal battles and bans over rising concerns for the safety of women passengers.INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images

How to get in touch with UP's response service?

Any unaccompanied woman, who is out on road during these hours could call a PRV to escort her by dialing 112, the emergency response service of UP police. Director-General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh issued the order in the wake of the recent spurt in crime against women in the state.

The service has been started to provide better security to a woman at night. Any unaccompanied woman in distress, or otherwise, can use this service to reach her destination safely. - Director-General of Police (DGP) O.P. Singh

PRV will include two women officials?

The PRV escorting the woman will necessarily have two women officials. Police chiefs of each district have been asked to make arrangements for the same. Ten per cent of PRVs in a district should definitely have women officials so that such PRVs could be sent to escort unaccompanied woman, the order said.

Indian women police officers — [REPRESENTATIONAL PICTURE]: Indian women of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) march during a rehearsal for the forthcoming Republic Day parade on a foggy winter morning at Rajpath in New Delhi on January 4, 2016.CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images

The district police chiefs have also been advised to provide the necessary training for the same to these women officials. The DGP, last week, had asked all private establishments to make necessary arrangements for the safe travel of women employees who are on late night duties.