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A CASE DIARY FOR THE INDIAN POLICE

Relevance: GS 2 – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Why in the News?

• A three-day conference took place in Jaipur during the first week of January, 2024, bringing together police officers at the Director General of Police level from all over India.
• The conference served as both a stocktaking exercise and a learning experience, with a focus on contemporary Information Technology topics forming the core of the agenda.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the conference, engaging individually with many officers, indicating a heightened emphasis on law enforcement in the country.
• The event highlighted the increasing significance placed on efficient policing and underscored the high stakes that the administration associates with law enforcement.

Issues in Police Service

Police-Public Trust:

• Despite efforts, the police in India still struggle to gain the trust and confidence of the majority of the population.
• The public perception of the police remains abysmal, with many citizens reluctant to seek help from police stations unless in extreme distress.

Challenges Faced by Lower Ranks:

• Despite technological advancements, constables and sub-inspectors, the two ranks with direct entry, may face challenges in showcasing their talents.
• Attention and glory are predominantly directed towards IPS officers, leaving lower ranks with limited opportunities to prove themselves.

Global Disparity in Policing Structure:

• The prevailing structure in India, where IPS officers receive disproportionate attention and recognition, contrasts with global policing norms.
• In many countries, recruits start at the lowest level and progress through the ranks, allowing for a more equitable distribution of opportunities.

Challenges in the Hierarchy:

• The hierarchical structure poses challenges, with a lack of evident interest among IPS officers in educating those at the lowest levels.
• A proposal is made for DGPs and their subordinates to allocate an hour a day to educate and empower their ranks in knowledge expansion and application for the benefit of the public.

Lack of a Guardian Organization:

• Even after seven decades of Independence, there is a notable absence of a guardian organization that reaches out to the poorest in the community.
• Despite honest intentions from the executive, there has been no significant improvement in the reputation of police forces.

Ineffectiveness of Police Commissions:

• Police commissions, despite their existence, have not contributed significantly to improving the image of the police forces.
• Observations made by these commissions are often perceived as inane and fail to bring about substantial changes.

Growing Discord between Centre and Opposition-led States:

• The Indian Police Service (IPS), managed by New Delhi, is seen as a ‘permanent irritant’ by some Opposition-led States.
• States view the IPS as unreliable intruders over whom they have no control, expressing a preference for their own recruits with undivided loyalties.

Challenge of Politicization:

• The perennial issue of politicization is an integral part of any discussion on policing.
• Insulating policemen from political influence remains a major concern, posing a challenge in democratic governance.
• Politeness in refusing illegal demands from grassroots politicians is a delicate art, and not many can navigate it with tact.
• Achieving independence and operational autonomy for the police force is considered a distant goal until there is a comprehensive transformation in the political landscape.

Potential Future Strain:

• The discord between the Centre and some States regarding the IPS is likely to exacerbate in the coming years.
• The delicate subject of the IPS’s role and its relationship with states may not have been adequately addressed at the Jaipur conference.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Federal Governance:

• The role of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and its implications for federal governance need prompt attention.
• Attacks on ED officers in various places in India are unfortunate and pose a danger to relations between New Delhi and the States.

Key Ideas in the Conference for Police force

Emphasis on New Criminal Laws:

• Highlighted the framing of new criminal laws with the principles of ‘Citizen First, Dignity First, and Justice First’.
• Shifted the focus of the police from traditional methods (“danda”) to a data-driven approach, underscoring the importance of information in law enforcement.

Database Integration and AI-driven Analytics:

• Highlighted the imperative to link databases for a cohesive and streamlined approach to information management.
• Advocated for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven analytical techniques to address emerging security challenges effectively.

Advancements in Technology:

• The police have shown an improvement in technology adoption, attributed to an increase in educated personnel in the lower ranks.
• As per RK Raghavan (former CBI Director), the rise in technology-savvy individuals may be a result of the high unemployment rate in India, leading many to choose a career in the police force.

Security Concerns Addressed:

• Deliberated on a spectrum of security-related issues with critical importance, covering various aspects.
• Discussed measures for ensuring the security of borders, addressing cyber-threats, combating radicalization, preventing fraudulent issuance of identity documents, and tackling threats arising from AI.

Prioritizing Women’s Safety:

• Stressed the importance of ensuring women’s safety, encouraging an environment where women can work fearlessly ‘kabhi bhi aur kahin bhi’ (anywhere anytime).

Restructuring the Police force:

• Despite the sharp minds and zeal of IPS officers, there is an argument against their dominance due to a hierarchical gap between higher and lower ranks.
  • A major restructuring is suggested to bridge the gap, emphasizing the need for knowledge, integrity, and empathy for the common man to enhance the image of India’s police force.
• Achieving a balance between higher and lower ranks is seen as ambitious but crucial for improving policing quality.
• Senior police officers are urged to make earnest attempts at restructuring and fostering education, with a call for spending time teaching lower ranks to expand their knowledge and apply it for the common good.

Comprehensive Training:

• Emphasized the crucial need for comprehensive training, spanning from Station House Officer (SHO) to Director General of Police (DGP) levels.
• Recognized the importance of technology upgradation, advocating for advancements from Thana (police station) to Police Headquarters (PHQ) to effectively implement the 3 new criminal laws.

Utilizing Social Media for Public Benefit:

• Advised the use of social media at the police station level for disseminating positive information and messages to benefit citizens.
• Suggested leveraging social media for timely dissemination of advance information on natural calamities and disaster relief efforts.

Promoting Citizen-Police Connect through Sports:

• Recommended organizing various sports events as a means to strengthen the connection between citizens and the police.
• Acknowledged the positive impact of sports in fostering a closer relationship between law enforcement and the community.

Source:

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-case-diary-for-the-indian-police/article67735128.ece

Mains question

Examine the multifaceted challenges in contemporary policing. Evaluate potential reforms to enhance the effectiveness and public trust in law enforcement. (250 words)