Shimla: This may be an era of reels, videos, and social media stories, but the Himachal Pradesh police have been told to lay off from such content creation, at least while in uniform.
Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Atul Verma issued a circular Monday noting that some cops had been sharing social media content featuring themselves in uniform, despite it being unrelated to police work.
“This conduct is against the rules and norms of the police department. And the content unrelated to police work may affect the reputation of the department,” the circular reads.
It also directs district superintendents of police, commandants, unit in-charges, and supervisory officers to ensure their personnel strictly abstain from uploading photos, videos, reels, or stories unrelated to police duties on social media platforms while in uniform.
Speaking to ThePrint, DGP Verma clarified that he had nothing against personal expression, but that police personnel must ensure a clear distinction between their off-duty activities and professional persona.
“The police uniform is a symbol of commitment, dedication, and accountability towards the public,” he said. “Anyone possessing any kind of talent can pursue it after office hours. I am not discouraging them, but I am averse to using the police uniform, office, or anything related to the department.”
The 27 May circular comes a week after social activist Abhishek Goswami had written to the DGP about the online conduct of some police personnel.
“Some cops are modelling in their uniform and flaunting their official vehicles and office on social media for personal gain,” Goswami told ThePrint. “I have written to the Chief Secretary, home secretary and DGP in this regard.”
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Circular a step toward ‘social media policy’
The circular instructs supervisors to sensitise cops so that they stop sharing information about police work or official duties on their personal social media accounts.
It also cites Rule 11 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, noting that “a government servant may not communicate directly to other government servants, non-official persons, or the press any documents or information that may have come into his possession in the course of his public duties”.
Only authorised personnel can share police-related information through official social media accounts, it adds.
Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh police are also formulating a comprehensive social media policy for their officers, ThePrint has learned.
A senior police official privy to the matter said that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has already established a social media policy, but the Himachal police department is now setting up specific guidelines for personnel to follow.
“We are working on a social media policy for police. So far, the DGP has issued a circular specific to some issues,” he said.
The official added that a rise in officers “misusing” uniforms and official vehicles for non-policing purposes on social media had necessitated the circular.
Another retired police officer said that the social media policy has been under discussion for a long time, and that every time it was reviewed, new issues seemed to crop up.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)
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