Police Act 2002 was introduced to improve police performance in the country. A number of changes were also introduced in the criminal code which was being followed from the British time when they ruled India. An effort was made to re-orient, Police function to make it more compatible to our social and cultural needs laying emphasis on public-police relationship.
Police had, followed code of conduct, where to create fear amongst the public was the guideline on which they performed their daily routine. As a result "Thana culture" developed which created fear - a sense of insecurity in the public. The functioning of Police and the expectations of the public caused a wedge on Police image, which continued to deteriorate over the years.
The use of physical force - torture had a psychological impact on the minds of the masses. Crimes committed were not reported and the crime graph remained low. Over the years after partition the force with lack of education - a mediocre training with low attitude failed to deliver.
Imagine a sub-Inspector of Police cannot read a complaint application in English, what investigations you can expect from him? The Police force unfortunately is low paid - overworked, deprived of perks and privileges is on the receiving end. With high cost of living the only option for them is to beef up their salaries with bribes. Thus corruption is rampant in the force and this is one reason where they have failed to deliver. No amount of reforms will ameliorate the situation unless the government takes steps in areas of their basic needs.
Today we have police force which has joined hands with criminals and give them protection for crimes committed, Police in any society is duty bound to protect life, honour and dignity of citizens of the State, they are responsible to protect property as laid down in the Constitution.
For, an ordinary person to get an FIR lodged in a police station is a task impossible unless you have political influence or back your effort by the buck. There are God fearing people in our society and you do come across some in Police force as well. The Chairman National Re-construction Bureau Aziz Danyal once said that a poor man in the country cannot get an ordinary work done unless he has political influence or can pay for it.
In one sentence he has summed up volumes of material that one could write. This was reported in an Urdu Daily. This brings one to an issue of governance in the country. The local bodies system has failed to deliver even in the fifth year of its existence. Our leaders talk of govt officials being servants of the people. These servants are mostly sitting in air conditioned offices and for a poor man access to the "Sahib" is a difficult task.
The govt does not know the ground realities. Perhaps it does not want to know.
It is fair to appreciate that the Police Force with its inherent drawbacks is performing a difficult task of keeping law and order situation in the country. The country is facing terror threat from within and this has further burdened the existing Police Force with additional responsibilities for maintaining law and order situation.
One must ponder over the operational commitments of police with a view to suggesting changes that could improve its capability to deliver in the present situation.
THE FOLLOWING NEED TO BE ADDRESSED:
-- Our Police Force is under strength. Figures should be worked out on the basis of population and crime rates keeping in view the data followed by countries like Britain, France, Germany, Malaysia etc.
Then there is a question of deploying Police on VIP duties. A separate force should be given responsibility for the above task as this additional duty hampers efficient functioning of the force.
-- It takes an appreciable time from the normal functioning and sets in hurdles in efficient performing of duties. Alternatively this force could operate from police stations under command of SHO concerned.
-- Old timers upto the level of Police Inspectors be weeded out and new blood be inducted where a constable's minimum education should be Intermediate. The recruitment should be on merit and not on political influence.
-- Police training institutions will have to be streamlined. Emphasis should be on physical fitness of constables, efficiency in the use of personal weapons, basics of law, office routine, investigations on preliminary scale, public relations are some areas that need attention.
-- Promotion to higher rank should be on merit and in conformity with the education/technical standard laid down. Setting example of promotion for a courageous work should be avoided as it causes discontentment amongst the ranks. At the ASI level and above tactics in police encounters must be taught.
-- Presently the criminals have a better edge over Police when confronted. Police casualties reported are often more and this speaks of the lack of planning and operation.
-- The government need to look into the pay scale, perks and privileges, duration of duty, transport, communication etc. How can a constable detailed for a task miles away reach his destination unless govt transport is given. How about his logistics ie meals etc. He is bound to come under obligation if he accepts meal from the party. This is rampant as Police constables are shuttled about without any back up support. This aspect needs to be evaluated.
-- Investigations at the level of Police Officer need to be streamlined. Because of corruption in majority of the cases actual criminals get away as the evidence is intentionally distorted. In such cases the Judiciary should recommend punishment to those involved in the police set up. Judges should exercise power to recommend dismissal/punishment to those protecting criminals. Very few cases of such penal actions, are reported in newspapers.
-- Police Force should be made influence free. Is that possible in our country? Looks doubtful! We have feudal society where the Maliks - the Khans - the Chaudaries sitting in various Assemblies wield political powers and often interfere in police functions. This is unfortunate but it is a reality. Unless we adopt accountability and monitoring in our system we will not make any headway.
-- In metropolitan cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Quetta, Peshawar the crime rates have gone-up manifold. One shrugs his shoulders to read figures on TV channels. Our police is an accomplice in some of the crimes like decoities, gambling, prostitution, where it gives protection to the perpetrators. The monthly "Bhatta System" is in vogue.
-- The govt can do upto a limit within its resources. A lot has to be done to improve Police functions. Public involvement in the working of police force in way of assistance and reliance needs to be planned. It sometimes hurts to read that police refused to register FIR in a case of rape, murder, dacoity etc when a society feels threatened from the protectors of law it is a sad state of affairs.
This is the reason that a common man on the street has no respect for the law as he finds that he is not accountable for his actions to anyone. At present the society is passing through a period where the younger generation is lacking in respecting elders as was found during the days of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
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