Thiruvananthapuram | The Kerala government on Friday approved changes to the SHO system, making sub-inspectors heads of regular stations while retaining inspectors in 63 key stations, officials said.

The inspector-led Station House Officer system was introduced in 196 police stations in 2017 and extended to another 268 stations in 2018.

The decision was based on a proposal by the state police chief following a detailed study by a committee headed by the Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters), according to a Government Order issued by the Home Department.

The order said the move was aimed at improving policing efficiency, public grievance redressal, utilisation of inspector-level officers and investigation of serious crimes.

Under the reorganisation, 203 surplus inspector posts will be redeployed to various police units, including district crime branches, special branches, narcotic cells, the Anti-Terrorism Squad, the State Crime Branch, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, the Economic Offences Wing and the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The government decided to provide sub-inspector posts in 59 police stations that currently do not have sanctioned SI posts.

These posts will be redeployed from the State Special Branch, the VACB, the Kerala Police Academy, the Economic Offences Wing and the Crime Branch.

The new system will be implemented after at least two months to facilitate training and infrastructure modifications, the order said.

Sub-inspectors who will serve as SHOs will undergo a two-week refresher training programme and be provided with identification badges.

Additional SIs and assistant SIs may be designated to head the law and order, crime and prosecution wings at police stations.

District police chiefs have been directed to make arrangements to accommodate circle inspectors within the existing police infrastructure.

The order said women inspectors posted at Vanitha Police Stations in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad and Kasaragod will function as SHOs.

In their absence, women SIs will serve as SHOs under the supervision of the concerned inspector or circle inspector.

The government order stipulated that no new posts would be created, no additional expenditure would be incurred and no manpower would be kept idle or attached to district reserve units as part of the reorganisation.