Mysuru: In a significant step towards empowering women Police officers, the Women Police Training School in Mysuru is incorporating specialised motorcycle riding lessons into its curriculum.

With the next training batch set to commence in March, this initiative aims to enhance mobility, efficiency and self-reliance among women Police personnel.

Mysuru is home to Karnataka’s only dedicated training school for women Police officers. Traditionally, the programme lasts for eight months, but recognising the need for additional technical skills, the duration has now been extended to ten months.

A major highlight of this extension is the inclusion of motorcycle riding, with trainees receiving practical lessons for an hour each day.

“We have structured the training to ensure that every recruit, regardless of prior experience, gains confidence in riding. Those unfamiliar with motorcycles will start with gearless bikes, while experienced riders will transition to geared motorcycles,” said M.S. Geetha, Principal of the Women Police Training School.

Why motorcycle training matters: Beyond just a skill, motorcycle riding is a necessity for modern policing. In cases requiring immediate investigation, women officers often had to rely on male colleagues for transportation, leading to inefficiencies. This new training ensures that women officers can respond swiftly to crime scenes, conduct independent patrols and                                                    handle shift duties without  logistical hurdles.

“With this training, we eliminate the dependency on male officers for transport. Each officer can now respond to a situation independently, ensuring better resource allocation and quicker response times,” Geetha added.

The upcoming batch consists of 258 women Police trainees, with a strong emphasis on both motorcycle riding and technology skills. The training centre has been allotted 20 motorcycles by the central office and the existing fleet at the academy will also  be utilised.

This initiative not only enhances operational efficiency but also symbolises a shift towards breaking gender stereotypes in law enforcement. As these officers gear up — literally and figuratively — their new-found mobility is set to redefine the role of women in the Police force.