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Mannequins pose for police in street - 8th January 2020

Mannequins deployed in police uniforms are the latest law enforcement strategy in Bangalore, India, appearing at junctions sporting full traffic cop attire comprising of a white hat and shirt, and hi-vis vest bearing the police insignia.

Through randomly replacing police officers with mannequins at police intersections, it's hoped that more motorists will abide by traffic regulations. But why does this need arise?

Since only 450 of over 44,000 road junctions in Bangalore are properly served by traffic lights, this requires the vast majority to be managed by the police and due to a lack of sufficient officers many are simply not staffed.

Consequently, 2019 witnessed in excess of 50,000 cases of reckless driving and over 57,000 reports of driving under the influence.

Nevertheless, do such model officers provide a solution to the problem? Local responses have been mixed.

Man 1: "It's general human mentality when you see a policeman - you have the fear in your heart, 'Oh, I am doing something wrong, I will not do it.' "

Man 2: "We do not, do not follow rules even if they [police] are real. Then, how could it work when they are not even moving and running after us?"