Police personnel in Coimbatore have appealed to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to address growing workload pressures that they say are spilling over into family life and mental well-being.
They point to the expansion of specialised wings—such as anti-narcotics, prohibition, cybercrime, women-focused units and social media monitoring—without matching creation of new posts. Officers say these units need dedicated manpower, office space, vehicles and technology, instead of pulling staff from routine policing.
According to them, station duties already stretch from patrols, beat work and vehicle checks to receiving complaints, registering cases, investigations, arrests, court work, escorting prisoners, serving summons and paperwork. Added responsibilities during protests, elections, festivals, VIP security, rowdy monitoring, narcotics enforcement, cyber cases and POCSO cases, they say, make weekly offs a rarity due to staff shortages.
They also warn that criminals are rapidly adopting new methods, including fake accounts, digital payment fraud, online investment scams and data theft. Police personnel say the force needs modern computers, updated software, digital forensics tools, data analytics support and continuous technical training to stay ahead.
Officers argue that strengthening law and order is not only about new buildings and schemes, but also about ensuring a healthy work environment and mental stability for personnel. They say resolving these issues is essential to build a stronger police force and achieve the government’s goal of a safer, peaceful Tamil Nadu.
