Police role vital to protecting coastline which is crucial to economy: Amit Shah

Panaji : Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday presented the President's Colour, the highest honour conferred on a military unit or police force, to Goa police and launched an AI-based helpline for cybercrime. With the honour, Goa police became the 15th state police force in the country to receive the President's Colour. Goa police's origins trace back to the Policia do Estado da India (PEI), established by a Portuguese decree in April 1946. Shah appreciated Goa police and state govt for introducing the AI-based 1930 cybercrime helpline and urged the force to make AI-based helplines available in all languages. He also lauded the police for reducing the response time to emergency calls from 18 minutes to 9 minutes. Addressing police personnel, Shah said the force had now joined the select group of police forces that had received the President's Colour. He said they had an important role in protecting national and internal security, particularly the state's coastline, which was crucial to its economy. Shah also praised the force for ensuring the safety of tourists visiting Goa. 'Goa may be a small state, but it has an important place in the country,' he said. Chief minister Pramod Sawant said the President's Colour was a major milestone for Goa police and described it as a 'higher standard today'. 'I do not see this honour as the finishing line. I see it as a higher starting point. We want Goa police to be number one in India. Number one in technology. Number one in road safety. Number one in cybercrime response. Number one in women and child safety. Number one in coastal security,' Sawant said. DGP Alok Kumar said the President's Colour was not merely a formal honour but recognition of the sacrifices made by Goa Police personnel. He said the force was adapting to meet emerging challenges. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Goa | Silver Rate in Goa | Bank Holidays in Goa | Public Holidays in Goa | Petrol Price in Goa Stay updated with the latest Goa news. Download the TOI App.