Policing in India

Policing in India

Context: We discuss this article in context of recently held three-day conference in Jaipur for top-level police officers from across India which focused on various issues related to policing in India.

What are the issues related to policing in India?
• Overburdened Force and Vacancies: There are several vacancies in state police forces and some central armed police units. This leads to an overburdened force, affecting their efficiency and effectiveness.
• Low Public Trust: The Indian police are perceived negatively by the public, leading to a lack of trust and confidence in their capabilities.
• Police Accountability: There are issues related to police accountability, with instances of misuse of power and poor performance.
• Corruption: Corruption is a significant issue in the Indian police system.
• Politicization of the Police: The police force is often influenced by political factors, affecting its impartiality
• Centre-State Conflict: There is tension between the central government and some state governments regarding the Indian Police Service (IPS). States view IPS officers as outsiders and prefer recruiting their own personnel.
• Inadequate Training and Development: Lower-ranking officers lack sufficient training and development opportunities, hindering their ability to effectively serve and protect the community.
• Custodial Deaths: Instances of custodial deaths have raised serious concerns about the functioning of the police system.
• Use of Harmful Methods: There have been reports of the police using harmful methods like coercion and deception.
• Lack of a Proper Tenure Policy: The lack of a proper tenure policy for the posting of officers at different levels and arbitrary transfers is another issue.

Way Forward
• There is urgent need to bridge the gap between higher and lower rank police officers.
• Police officers, personnel need to foster empathy towards the common man.
• Educating lower ranks and shielding the police from political interference are crucial.