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 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: The Hindu
Mains question
Consider the many facets of the problems facing modern policing. Examine possible changes to improve law enforcement’s efficacy and public confidence.
(250 word)