The Coimbatore City Police have introduced measures to strengthen college safety and provide a designated police contact for families affected by serious offences.
Under the ‘Education First’ initiative, Police Liaison Officers (PLOs) assigned to colleges will maintain contact with college management and flag issues concerning students. They have been instructed to work with the institutions to prevent drug use and peddling, identify student disputes and group conflicts linked to social media, and report significant changes in attendance or suspicious activities.
Colleges have been asked to establish Social Media Monitoring Cells and use their Anti-Drug Clubs to share relevant information with the police. They have also been advised to monitor the presence of outsiders, former students and other unauthorised persons on campuses and in hostels.
The police have also introduced the Family Liaison Police Officer (FLPO) system for serious cases, including sexual offences and POCSO cases, murder, abduction, serious assault, suspicious deaths, planned crimes and major road accidents. An FLPO will be the designated police contact for the victim’s family, provide legally permissible information on the progress of the case and convey their concerns to the investigating officer.
The FLPO will also report threats to family members or witnesses to the appropriate officers and coordinate access to medical or psychological assistance, legal aid, child protection services, One Stop Centres, compensation and other government services, where necessary.
The FLPO will establish contact with the family, preferably within 24 hours of being assigned the case, and maintain contact during important stages of the investigation and court proceedings, including after the filing of the charge sheet, depending on the case.
Commissioner of Police N. Kannan chaired meetings with PLOs and FLPOs on Saturday (September 12) to discuss their roles and coordination with colleges, investigating officers and victims’ families.
Deputy Commissioners of Police (North, South and Traffic), Assistant Commissioners of Police and other police personnel participated.
Published – September 12, 2026 08:24 pm IST
