Karnataka police tighten accountability under revamped beat system
The Karnataka police have strengthened accountability under the State’s revamped beat policing system, directing that not only beat personnel but also Police Sub-Inspectors (PSIs) and
The Karnataka police have strengthened accountability under the State’s revamped beat policing system, directing that not only beat personnel but also Police Sub-Inspectors (PSIs) and senior supervisory officers be held responsible for lapses in their jurisdictions. In a communication dated July 14, 2026, the Office of the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP), Karnataka, instructed all Police Commissioners, Range Inspectors General and Superintendents of Police to examine a representation seeking greater accountability of senior officers under the improved beat policing system. The communication forwarded a government letter dated June 15, 2026, regarding a petition on the implementation of the beat system. The petitioner alleged that while beat constables and other ground-level personnel were routinely held accountable for failures in their jurisdictions, officers of the rank of PSI and above were often limited to routine supervision and were not being held equally responsible for lapses in beat policing.
The representation urged the department to fix accountability on supervisory officers so that responsibility is shared across all levels of the policing hierarchy rather than resting solely with beat staff. According to senior police officials, several complaints raising similar concerns were received from across the State, prompting the police headquarters to issue fresh directions clarifying the responsibility of supervisory officers. Gaps in the system Under the existing beat system, every beat is supervised by a PSI, while an Inspector monitors a group of beats at the police station level. Senior officers acknowledged that in some instances the system had been misused, with supervisory officers allegedly escaping accountability while disciplinary action was taken primarily against ground-level personnel. “The recent circular fixes accountability not only on the beat staff, but also on the beat officer and senior officers supervising groups of beats,” a senior police officer said.
The DG&IGP has directed all field units to examine the concerns raised in the petition and take appropriate action, while ensuring effective supervision of beat policing by officers at every level. Response system Meanwhile, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh highlighted the city’s AI-enabled Namma Hoysala emergency response system, saying technology has significantly improved police response times. According to the commissioner, the AI-based dispatch platform automatically identifies the nearest Hoysala patrol vehicle and transmits emergency alerts directly to it, enabling officers to reach the scene quickly as first responders. “The average response time has been reduced to 6.30 minutes, which is a significant achievement considering Bengaluru’s traffic conditions,” Mr. Singh said. He added that every emergency response is monitored in real time from the city police control room, with dispatches and field responses digitally recorded to ensure transparency, accountability and operational efficiency.
The BriefWire