Thiruvananthapuram | Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday criticised the state government's decision to replace the PRO system in police stations with 'Citizen Help Desks', saying the move would make it difficult for ordinary people to approach the police.

In a Facebook post, the former chief minister said the decision would undermine the very concept of people-friendly policing and deprive citizens approaching police stations with complaints and grievances. An officer would listen to them with empathy and understanding.

He said the proposed help desks were likely to turn into mechanical counters instead of providing the human interaction and reassurance that people needed.

The absence of a dedicated officer to interact directly with visitors and offer them support could further increase the psychological distance between the public and the police, he added.

Pointing out that around 12 different services, including cyber complaints, Right to Information applications and various other applications, had been brought under a single help desk, Vijayan said this could create practical difficulties.

Amid the pressure of computer entries and clerical work, the staff manning the desk might not have sufficient time to patiently hear the grievances of ordinary people or assist them, making the process more complicated for them, the CPI(M) veteran said.

Vijayan said the change would take away a space where people could approach the police without fear. The practical difficulties involved in replacing a system specifically meant to welcome and listen to the public with a mere official counter should be seriously examined, he added.

Maintaining the humane face of the police force was of utmost importance, he said, urging the government to take the issue seriously and reconsider its decision.