This story is from September 23, 2021

Goa: Tourist cops to prowl beaches from Monday

A dedicated tourist police force has finally been put in place and is likely to start patrolling the state’s beach stretches from Monday, World Tourism Day. The team comprises about 100 policemen trained in soft skills.
Goa: Tourist cops to prowl beaches from Monday
On most days during the season, the Calangute beach is the most crowded and needs 24X7 patrolling.
PANAJI: A dedicated tourist police force has finally been put in place and is likely to start patrolling the state’s beach stretches from Monday, World Tourism Day. The team comprises about 100 policemen trained in soft skills.
“The tourist police are likely to formally begin their duty in tourist belts from Monday,” an official told TOI.
The tourism department had for long felt the need for such a force to man tourist areas to enable immediate rescue of tourists, to clamp down on any illegality and stop the vendor nuisance, among others.
However, besides this force, more police personnel will also be required at beaches.
Currently, IRB personnel are posted at beaches. Being few in number they are unable to effectively patrol when crowds build.
On most days during the season, the Calangute beach is the most crowded and needs 24X7 patrolling.
A tourism official said that they also want tourist police to report to them about beach shacks operators who put deck beds in excess of that permitted.
“We know most put deck beds and umbrellas in excess of what is permitted. When every shack operator does that, the beach gets congested making it difficult for visitors to walk freely,” the officer said.

He said that whenever they send a team following a complaint, shack operators ensure that the area is cleared and the excess deck beds removed before they arrive.
Vendors, those offering massages, selling goods, and some even sell food items and beverages, and beggars are banned on beaches. Yet, a handful of them can be spotted at beaches as they manage to evade the police on patrol.
“The vendors keep a close eye on the police and accordingly plan their entry. As police presence reduces in the evening, you will see vendors in big numbers at the time. At night, they have a field day,” a shack operator at Baga said.
Besides, the officer said they expect tourist police to contain drinking on beaches, which is also a banned activity.
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About the Author
Bindiya Chari

I'm a journalist with experience of more than a decade. I have covered politics, tourism, health and also done some off-beat stories. Apart from passion for journalism I have penchant for photography, trekking and travelling.

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