Close on the heels of Bengaluru stampede, Karnataka police chief issues SOP for crowd management
In the circular, Mr. Saleem said that 'police responses must prioritize life safety, protection of rights, prevention of property damage, and de-escalation of potential conflicts' and that 'early planning, coordination with stakeholders, and minimal use of force are essential guiding principles.' He said that 'modern gatherings are often spontaneous and influenced by social media, necessitating adaptive strategies,' prompting the SOP.
The SOP stresses pre-event planning: anticipating the size of the crowd and directs police to conduct behavioural and spatial analysis simulations for crowd movement, identify bottlenecks and potential high-risk areas using available tools. The circular further asks the police to carry out a venue safety audit, which should include capacity limits, entry/exit routes, emergency evacuation plans, and communication infrastructure. 'Any venue that fails safety audits must not be approved for high-footfall events,' the circular said.
The SOP also directs police to consider the possibility of counter-protests and demonstrations, risk to nearby vital installations, past behaviour at similar events and availability of emergency services.
Control access to venues
The SOP calls for development of a crowd management/operational plan approved by the Commissioner/SP which needs to be circulated among personnel. Apart from stressing on clearly defined roles for personnel deployed, the SOP calls for access control to venues wherever possible using technology. 'Use digital ticketing and reserved seating to streamline entry. Implement checkpoints with metal detectors, QR code scanning, or biometric systems as far as possible,' the SOP says.
The SOP lays stress on a centralised but open communication with the crowd through a public address system and to provide real-time updates on wait times. It directs the medical emergency services to be connected to the PA control room, so that they respond to any call for help immediately.
At the event, the SOP directs police personnel to use barricades to control access and organize queues, ensure separate access lanes for VIPs, differently abled, general public and staff, to have a spacious and organised holding area for crowd entry and mark all emergency exits clearly and keep them unobstructed.
'Avoid confrontation, use minimal force, if needed'
The SOP clearly directs police personnel to avoid confrontation or provocation, maintain professional demeanour and avoid engagement with protesters unless necessary. When crowds need to be dispersed, police are to first explore non-coercive methods. They have been directed to isolate and detain only violent or disruptive individuals where possible.
SOP directs personnel to provide three structured warnings before dispersal, identifying offenses and exit routes. It even directs officials to record warnings using audio visual equipment where feasible. 'Maintain logs of key decisions, warnings, and crowd behaviour. Record crowd activity through audio/video for accountability and evidence,' the SOP says.
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