Kolkata Police has introduced a new protocol requiring senior officers to send short video instructions to junior staff via WhatsApp before any emergency or law and order deployment, aiming to eliminate on-ground confusion during critical situations. The directive has been issued from the office of Police Commissioner Ajay K. Nanda.

What the New Directive Says

Officers at the level of deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners have been instructed to record and share video briefings with inspectors, sub-inspectors, assistant sub-inspectors, sergeants, and other subordinate ranks before they are sent on emergency duties. The videos are to be circulated through the respective WhatsApp groups of each unit.

Crucially, each video must not exceed two minutes in duration. A senior city police official explained that this cap was deliberately set to keep the messaging sharp — longer videos, officials noted, risk adding to confusion rather than resolving it.

Why the Change Was Needed

The move addresses a persistent communication gap within the force. During processions, major public gatherings, or protest marches, senior officers routinely brief their teams — but those instructions have not always filtered down effectively to the lowest rungs of the hierarchy.

'At times, the instructions do not properly percolate to junior officers or staff, especially at the levels of sub-inspectors, sergeants and other subordinate staff,' a city police officer said. 'As a result, many police personnel or officers do not understand what they have to do during duty or what their role would be in maintaining law and order.'

This is a structural challenge common to large urban police forces, where command chains can dilute messaging across multiple tiers before it reaches field personnel.

Accountability Built Into the System

The directive goes beyond merely sharing the videos. Deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner-level officers have been specifically tasked with confirming that junior staff have not only received the videos but also understood them. This adds a layer of accountability that was absent in earlier verbal briefing systems.

'Every subordinate police officer and staff will be able to know their specific duties in case of emergency or law and order related duties and prepare themselves for any situation,' the official said.

Significance for Policing in Kolkata

Kolkata, as one of India's most densely populated cities, regularly sees large-scale public events — from political rallies to religious processions — that require coordinated police deployment. A communication breakdown at the sub-inspector or sergeant level can have real consequences for crowd management and public safety.

The video-briefing system, if implemented consistently, could serve as a replicable model for other metropolitan police forces grappling with similar last-mile communication challenges. How effectively compliance is monitored will determine whether the initiative delivers on its intent.