Lucknow

Training on the newly passed criminal statutes is being provided to nearly 8,000 Lucknow police officers, who will then educate their Uttar Pradesh counterparts. Three new criminal laws aimed at reforming India’s criminal justice system will come into effect on July 1. The Lucknow Police Commissionerate has initiated a comprehensive training campaign to familiarize its 8,000–9,000 employees with these laws. Both offline and online training sessions have been conducted due to the large number of officers.

Social media is being utilized to raise public awareness alongside intra-departmental training for police officers. Starting July 1, the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act will be replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), according to the Union Home Ministry.

Under the new laws, all criminal offense First Information Reports (FIRs) will be filed under the BNS. Deadlines set by the BNSS will govern the prosecution and trial processes for all cases under the BNS. The BSA will enable registration of electronic documents as legally admissible evidence. Training sessions will continue through June for police officers from different ranks, ranging from Constables to Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs).