Berhampur: Police have conducted mock drills at 29 banks in the city to verify their security aspects.

"The inspector-in-charge and other officers of all police stations in the Berhampur police district, who on Wednesday took part in the mock drill, checked the security aspects in the banks, including the SBI and its main branch, apart from many private banks. The cops had scrutinised the CCTV cameras and the functioning of the emergency siren system for one hour," said Berhampur additional police superintendent Shantanu Kumar Dash.

The police conducted such mock security drills on April 24 for the first time.

Berhampur police superintendent Pinak Mishra reviewed the arrangements such as the CCTV cameras and security guards, besides other security aspects in the banks with the bank officers at his office on April 23. They discussed the standard operational procedures to enhance the banks' security.

"We found that most of the SBI branches, including the main branch, lacked adequate security. Some of the branches have CCTV cameras, but they do not have the required megapixel. Though the cameras are fitted inside the banks, there is no CCTV camera outside to keep a vigil on the roads," said Mishra.

However, almost all the private banks are maintaining the security procedure, he said. The emergency siren of many SBI branches did not work.

The police are insisting on the security aspects because of the frequent attempts on ATMs.

"Such surprise drills would continue at regular interval to streamline the bank security systems," said Dash.