Policemen advised to stop using cellphones while on duty

A ‘departmental advice’ has been issued to policemen, particularly those on duty at police stations and traffic signals, to avoid using cellphones at work and devote more time to the public cause.

However, cellphones could be used for official and personal emergencies without disturbing one’s duty, City Police Commissioner, P. Sivanandi told reporters here on Saturday.

Elaborating, he said the ‘advice’ was issued following complaints from the public that officials at the stations use the mobiles for a long time and did not have time to hear their grievances. Most often one had to wait for more than two hours to get something done.

Sivanandi said steps were being taken to take action against those travelling on footsteps of buses. Talks were being held with the transport corporation, requesting them to run additional buses during peak hours to enable people travel safely, he said.