Security for delivery executives: Bengaluru’s South East division police propose SOPs

C. K. Baba, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South East division, has proposed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for home delivery companies to follow for the safety of the delivery executives (gig workers).

Recently, a gang of three men was arrested by the Suddagunte police for robbing 25 mobile phones from delivery executives who work at night.

In June, after an eight-year-old girl allegedly falsely claimed that a food delivery executive forcibly took her to the terrace of the building, he was thrashed by residents and security guards of the apartment complex.

In May, a delivery executive was stabbed by a trio when he demanded that they pay for their order.  

While these are a few incidents from this year, for many years now, delivery executives in Bengaluru have been at the receiving end of theft and assault, especially at night and in areas located on the outskirts. In most cases, these delivery executives have felt helpless in such situations, especially if they are riding smaller electric bikes that are slower than those powered by petrol.  

In the backdrop of these incidents, C. K. Baba, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), South East division (where the gang of three stole 25 phones), has proposed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that home delivery companies should follow for the safety of the delivery executives (gig workers). 

“In the backdrop of these incidents, I will be issuing an advisory to delivery companies regarding some Dos and Don’ts, and how they can collaborate better with the police department. Initially, this will be implemented in South East division,” Mr. Baba said.