A woman who gathers the courage to report domestic abuse, a girl threatened with online blackmail, and a child rescued from trafficking share one fundamental expectation that the law will protect them, society will support them, and justice will not come too late. For a police officer, these are human lives whose dignity and future depend, in part, on how effectively institutions respond. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which came into force on July 1, 2024, provides an important foundation for strengthening the protection of women and children. Its dedicated chapter on offences against women and children, read alongside the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, and specialised legislation such as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, offers an opportunity to advance more responsive and accessible justice. The challenge is to translate this legal framework into everyday security. BNS’s promise must find expression in trust, prevention, timely protection and rehabilitation.

The first interaction between a complainant and the police can determine whether a person feels empowered to seek justice or retreats into silence. A sensitive response can prevent further harm; indifference can........

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