Mumbai cops will use cartoons for awareness

The Mumbai police have come up with a unique concept to make citizens aware about crime, rules, and ways to react in an emergency situation. Soon, on the big screen at theatres and multiplexes, small animated cartoon films will be shown, spreading awareness about crime and related issues. Work on scripts for the cartoon flicks have already begun, a police source said.

The Mumbai police and the IT industry have joined hands to make the concept a success. “Lots of new people are coming to the city every day. Many of them are not aware of the rules of the city. We will address these issues first, and later on, come up with new scripts. Once set in motion, it will become a continuous process,” a police officer said requesting anonymity.

He added that the police will ask stars from the entertainment industry to help them in the awareness campaign. “We are planning to show these short films at cinema halls, multiplexes, television channels and BEST buses. Once our films are ready, we will hold a meeting with people from the entertainment industry and discuss our campaign.”

When asked about the concept of the animated series, the officer said, “We have seen add campaigns spreading messages through animated cartoons. But our cartoons would not be faceless. The characters will look real and appealing. We will first have to draw the lessons, and then think of making it into a film.”

Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal said, “We have identified the issues on which the films are to be made. Cartoon characters have also been finalised.”