In the wake of alleged rape of a woman inside Ghaziabad police station, Lahore Police on Thursday introduced new standard operating procedures (SOPs) prohibiting women from remaining at police stations after sunset to safeguard women’s dignity and security.

The authorities also directed officers to complete all legal formalities during daylight hours.

Under the new directives, issued by DIG Operations Faisal Kamran to all divisional SPs and station house officers (SHOs), women must be allowed to leave police stations before sunset.

However, in exceptional or emergency circumstances, a woman may only be kept at a police station after dark with the prior approval of a senior police officer.

The order further states that neither female complainants nor women accused in criminal cases should be summoned to police stations after sunset.

Authorities have also instructed officers to hear complaints lodged by women immediately and resolve their issues on a priority basis, while ensuring that all legal proceedings involving women are conducted during daylight hours.

Police officials said the decision was taken to ensure the dignity, safety and protection of women and forms part of a new set of SOPs introduced in the wake of the recent incident at Ghaziabad police station, where an assistant sub-inspector was arrested on allegations of raping a young woman inside the police station.

The shocking allegations prompted the suspension of the station’s entire staff and triggered a high-level investigation.