Police Reforms in India: Most Essential for Better Enforcement of Law
This article talks about the need of reforms in Indian police service. It also discusses what type of police reforms in India can be done and what are the obstructions faced by the Indian police for its reforms.
Introduction to Indian Police Service
Problems of Indian Police Service
Required Police Reforms in India
Hurdles in path of Police Reforms in India
Conclusion
Introduction to Indian Police Service
Indian police service had originated during colonial rule in India. It is one of the highly burdened police force in the world. The number of average police personnel available in the country is 89 per lakh people. The ideal number of policemen required is 222 per lakh people. This data clearly indicates how high the burden on Indian police force is. This issue needs special attention and required to be resolved as soon as possible.
Pressure on Human Resource
Excessive workload is one of the biggest problems of Indian Police Service. The overburdened Indian police force is not able to give relief to its employees who have to stretch their working hours up to 14 to 16 hrs per day. This working duration even extends further on special occasions like festivals, rallies, situations of law and order. Police personnel are not given weekly off and holidays. They have to work on festivals also and cannot spend time with their family.
Security Issue
Due to low number of police personnel, policing, investigation and security have to compromised and delayed.
Impact on Police Image
All this physical and mental stress reduces their working efficiency and reduces faith of people on them. This directly impacts the public image of Indian Police Service.
Loss of lives of Police Personnel
One survey tells that the number of martyrdom of Indian police personnel is 500 to 800 per year while this number is 90 to 100 in USA. In other countries, this number is mere 5 to 10. This high number of loss of valuable lives of police personnel is directly linked with lack of resources.
Low Salaries
Salary of police personnel of Indian Police Service is very low. In developed countries like United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, police service is a highly paid job. In India, it is merely a skilled labour. The financial incentives of police are required to be raised.
Lack of Training
A survey conducted on 21000 police personnel of 21 states indicate that only 6% Indian police personnel receive training while in job. Rest of the police force receives its training only during recruitment.
Required Police Reforms in India
Rebuilding Trust in Police
According to recommendations of Malimath Committee, confession in front of police should be made admissible evidence.
Resource Availability
Resource crunch needs to be taken care as it impacts the functionality of police. Police should be provided with adequate number of vehicles, sufficient space in police stations, better housing, more staff and forensic support.
Better working Environment
The overburdened police staff should be provided suitable relief from their duty like weekly off. Festival holidays to some staff as per the festival concerned can become a cause of mental relaxation. This can give them time for spending with their families. All this is possible if more staff is recruited. Some states have declared to give one month additional salary on account of the burden but this cannot compensate their mental pain.
Technology Infusion
By making use of technology, burden on Indian police can be reduced. For example, Indian Railways is installing CCTV cameras in its 6000 railway stations. This is a relief for police officials engaged in security of railway stations.
Finding Alternative Solutions
Whereas possible, involving some alternatives to police force can reduce their burden. For example, only core areas of railways are provided security by police while non core areas are secured by private security agencies.
Structural Change
The police engaged in handling law & order should be separated from those involved in investigations. This structural change may possibly increase the efficiency in both.
Expansion of State Police Staff
Open ended expansion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) should be stopped and recruitment in state police services should be done.
Training
On job training must be done at different levels so as to keep the police force efficient.
Hurdles in path of Police Reforms in India
- Vested Interests of Politicians: On account of their vested interests, the politicians want to maintain status quo. They want to continue their hold on police so that they can save their people from criminal investigation. They make transfers of police officials as per their convenience. This political interference is one of the major hurdles in path of police reforms.
- Lack of Political Will: As per schedule seven of Indian constitution, police is a state subject. State governments are reluctant to make expenditure for police reforms because this is not beneficial in elections. But they do not remember the fact that about 9% of Indian GDP gets wasted due to damage of public property in situations of public disorder.
Conclusion
Police is an essential component of criminal justice system. This is vital for security of the people. A healthy police system can make a society healthy and crime free. Only efficient, well trained and resourceful police can do this job. Thus, police reforms in India are the need of the hour.
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