Kerala Police Academy

Kerala Police Academy (കേരള പോലീസ് അക്കാദമി) is situated in Ramavarmapuram in Thrissur city which began functioning in May, 2004.^[1] The Academy runs full-term basic courses for sub-inspectors, Armed Police Constables, Women constables, Police Drivers and Telecommunication Police Constables. It also runs basic training and in-service courses for various ranks.^[2]

History

The training establishment of Kerala Police has come a long way from the days of Police Training School of Travancore State in 1882 and the Police Training College at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) that has been in existence since 1943. Travancore Maharaja His Highness Visakham Thirunal established Trivandrum Police Training School in 1882 to train police forces of Travancore. The institution was attached to the Superintendent of Police of Travancore. Basic training in physical drills, martial arts and language was given primarily to senior police officials of Travancore Royal Police.

In 1921, Malabar Special Police Training Centre was established at Over Bridge Junction, Trivandrum. In 1940, Shri. E. Subramanion Pillai, DIG of Police was posted as Police Training Commission to study the working of the Vellore Police Teaching Institute and start a similar institution in Travancore. In 1943 the Police Recruit School was renamed as Police Training School, and set up in the present Police Training Centre Campus Thycaud and a DySP was made in charge of the institution. It functioned as a training institution for Women Police, Forest, Jail and Civil Service Staff. A post of Senior Law Instructor was created in 1949. In 1952, the State General Armed Reserve Training Team was formed. But in 1958, the ARTT was abolished and merged into SAP Battalion as per G.O. (MS) No. 740/58/Home dated 6.6.1958. The Special Armed Police was formed in the Leprosy Hospital Campus of Oolampara.

In 1959 the Police Training School was upgraded as Police Training College and a Superintendent of Police was posted as Principal. In 1962 a Police Recruit School was set up at Thrissur. Police Recruit School- Thrissur was merged with newly formed Armed Police Training Centre. In 1983, 7000 vacancies accumulated in Kerala Police. Hence the training was shifted from the training wings to Armed Police Battalions.

The Government, for providing guards to the Hydro Electric Projects as per G.O. (MS) No.58/83/Home dated 21-4-1983 formed a new Battalion. It was then named KAP-5 and its headquarters fixed at Ernakulum, vide G.O. (MS) 34/84/Home dated 30-3-1984. As KSEB was not in a position to finance the Battalion, it was converted as Armed Police Training Centre as per G.O. (MS) 84/85/Home dated 16/4/1985 and was established in Ramavarmapuram Camp as KAP 5Bn. The Armed Reserve Training School (ARTS) was created as per G.O. (Rt) No. 9/86/Home dated 15-1-1986 at Klari Camp. ARTS and APTC were abolished in 1991.

As per GO MS 1/1996/Home dated 01/01/1996 the Government sanctioned the setting up of Kerala Police Academy (KEPA) at Ramavarmapuram camp, Thrissur. Kerala Police Academy started functioning at Ramavarmapuram camp in 2001. Kerala Armed Police -5 Battalion was shifted from Ramavarmapuram to Maniyar Camp in October -2003. On 29 May 2004, Kerala Police Academy was inaugurated and started functioning by utilizing the barracks of Kerala Armed Police -5 battalion. The syllabus for Police Constable Training was revised in 2004 as per G.O (MS) 194/04 Home dated 19/052004. In this training Computer, Driving, Wireless, Behaviour and Human Psychology etc. were introduced. The Kerala Police Academy headed by Director in the Rank of Inspector General of Police. He is assisted by a DIG. There are five Assistant directors in the rank of Superintendent of Police to coordinate the Indoor, Outdoor and Technical training of Kerala Police Academy. The responsibility of the overall planning and supervision of training activities of Kerala police is vested in ADGP (training) whose office is based at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).

Kerala Police Academy undertakes a variety of training programmes catering to the requirements at various levels in the Police department. The institution imparts basic training to all categories in the police department including Technical Police Constables like Police Boat Syranges, Police Drivers, Mounted Police Constables, Armourer Police Constables, etc. The training of the Police Dogs and Dog handlers is undertaken the State Dog Training School at KEPA. Other departments like Kerala Motor Vehicle Department, Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, Forest Department, Excise Department are also availing the services of the KEPA in imparting basic training to their recruits at various levels. The Academy also offers capsule courses in specialized topics like Stress Management, Soft Skill development, Computer skills, Driving and Swimming to the recruits whose basic training is undertaken at the sub-centers of the Academy. The cadets from the police departments of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry also undergo training in the Academy.

Apart from the basic training, KEPA also conducts various in-service training programmes to the officers and men in the department in consultation and support from Institute of Management in Government (IMG), Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Data Security Council of India (DSCI), Wild Life Crime Control Bureau etc.. KEPA also organizes training programmes in Gender awareness, Trauma Care, Community Policing, Anti Human Trafficking etc. in consultation with various NGOs and other stakeholders including the department and the public. The institution also offers familiarisation and skill up-gradation courses to other departments like Customs & Central Excise, Motor vehicle department etc.

Through the rigorous and systematic training in Kerala Police Academy, the recruit trainees achieve high standards of physical fitness and mental alertness. To combat the emerging challenges and requirements of the present day policing in a most efficient manner.

The trainees are exposed to practical training on fire fighting equipments and fire control techniques by Kerala Fire and Rescue Services. Classes with practical sessions on Disaster management are also provided with the support of State Disaster Relief Forum. The controller of Explosives takes classes on Explosive substances with live demonstrations of the power of explosives at the firing butt. Cadets are also provided with practical classes on explosives handling and diffusion.

All the trainees step out from this prestigious Academy with the sole mission to serve and protect their fellow citizens in line with the motto of the Kerala Police “Mridhu Bhave Dhrida Krithyea” (Polite in Behavior but Firm in Action).

Facility

Spread over an area of 348 acres (1.4 km²), the Academy is designed to have a capacity of training 1950 trainees of various ranks (750 Women Police Constables, 150 Sub Inspectors and 400 Women constables) at a time, which is one of the highest in India. The Academy has Indoor Training facility to train 1200 people at a time, a main parade ground of 7.5 acres (30,000 m²) and a sports complex ground of 3.5 acres (14,000 m²). The Academy has got a 300 yards (270 m) firing range. The MT school of the Academy can train 400 drivers at a time. There is also a police dog training center and kennel which can train 30 dogs at a time.^[3]

Since its inception, the Academy has trained over 22,000 personnel of various ranks.^[4] The main administrative block of the Academy is a building of 90,000 square feet (8,000 m²) floor area. Accommodation at the Academy includes the Senior Officers’ Mess with a capacity of 68, a Subordinate Officers’ Mess with a capacity of 152, and the Mess for the constabulary which can house 900 men. The Academy has got its own hospital, bank and post office.^[5] The Academy is headed by an officer of the rank of ADGP, assisted by one DIG and five SPs. The responsibility of the overall planning and supervision of training activities of Kerala Police is vested in Director, KEPA, (ADGP Training).

Structure

Kerala Police Academy has a Main building of 90,000 Squire Feet. It consists of,

• An air-conditioned conference hall, can seat 100 delegates.
• One air-conditioned seminar hall, name Janamaithri Hall of 250 seating capacity
• 19 Classrooms, 1200 personnel can be seated in indoor classes at the same time.
• 3 computer labs, The first lab named 'Aryabhatta' used for Cyber Crime Investigation Training, the second one Named 'Varahamhira' is used for given computer basic awareness and the third one 'Bhaskaracharya' is used for CCTNS training

135 Computers are using for this.

• State Police Library and a Research wing situated in the main building of KEPA
• International standard swimming pool
• Crime Simulation Lab
• BDDS Museum
• Motor Transport Driving School
• Advanced weapon Firing Simulator
• Driving Simulator
• Super Market and Wet Canteen
• Central Police Canteen

Courses and training

Kerala Police Academy is conscious of the challenge of transforming Police training to suit the needs of a modern democratic society. Kerala Police Academy is about to revise both the content as well as the methodology of Police training.

References