Coimbatore city police launch ‘Police Eyes’ private security guards crime prevention network

Private security guards undergoing a training under 'Police Eyes' initiative in Coimbatore. The Coimbatore City Police have launched ‘Police Eyes’, a private security guards crime prevention network for proactive detection and prevention of crimes.An initiative by Commissioner of Police N. Kannan, ‘Police Eyes’ aims to utilise private security guards working in key establishments such as apartments, commercial establishments, jewellery showrooms, factories, warehouses, hotels, hospitals, educational institutions, construction sites and banks across the city as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the Police Department and train them to immediately report information about suspicious activities to the police.Assistant Commissioners of each range in the city and Police Inspectors are conducting consultative meetings with private security guards and security agencies in their jurisdictions to explain the objective, working mechanism, and role of private security guards under the new scheme.Special training classes are also being conducted for private security guards.Security guards are instructed to watch out, during their duty hours, for activities that may be precursors to criminal acts. These include movement of suspicious persons or vehicles; anyone scoping out houses and shops; and anyone checking the lock or security arrangements of a place.They should alert the police upon noticing suspicious movements of individuals at night, attempts to damage or disable surveillance cameras, trespassing attempts and individuals attempting to enter by buildings posing as employees or residents.The police are also imparting training to them to immediately inform the police in emergency situations such as theft or burglary attempts, vehicle theft bids, violence or severe altercations, immediate danger to women or children, fire accidents and spotting of suspicious objects.Private security guards have been instructed to act strictly as informants. They should not take the law into their own hands or attack/detain individuals. They should also not conduct personal investigations or spread unverified information through social media.Private security guards are also being trained on the dos and don’ts if a crime occurs, such as not touching objects at the scene, preserving the crime scene without moving items, informing the police immediately, and preventing surveillance camera recordings from being deleted.It has been emphasised that no individual should be suspected or discriminated against based on their religion, caste, dress, appearance, language, or community. As part of the scheme, the police are collecting details, including key institutions within each police station limit, private security guards, their contact numbers, working shifts, details of security supervisors, crime-vulnerable spots, night-time risk zones, and surveillance camera facilities.According to the police, a direct communication network between the Police Department and private security guards is being created. Published - August 31, 2026 08:44 pm IST