The document discusses the need to reform the Indian police system. It notes that while citizens expect the police to protect them, the current image of the police is that of being corrupt and colluding with criminals. There are issues with the police selection process, lack of accountability to the public, inadequate training, and lack of modernization. The document advocates for making the police independent of political interference, improving recruitment, training, and making the complaint system more accessible. Overall reforms are needed to make the police more citizen-centric and accountable.

1. What should be the new face of Indian PoliceWhat should be the new face of Indian Police
to maintain Law and Order in the Largestto maintain Law and Order in the Largest
Democracy of the World ?Democracy of the World ?

2. 
 People cannot take the law into their own hands. The
rationale behind this reasoning is that the state is
present to protect its citizens and to create an
environment for realization of human rights.
 There is no right of private defense in cases where
there is adequate time to have recourse to public
protection.
 Thus, citizens claim protection from the state for
their welfare and it is the reciprocal obligation of the
state to ensure the 'rule of law' through its
institutions.
Need for Police

3. 
 Citizens expect police to protect their rights and to
provide them security to lead a peaceful life, devoid
of any fear.
Expectations from the Police

4. 
 But unfortunately, the image of police today is not
that of a protector of the innocents but as an
extortionist, colluder with criminals and one of the
most corrupt arms of the government.
Harsh Reality

5. 
This photo, taken
at India Gate,
during the recent
protests in Delhi,
clearly shows the
way police
handles people.
A Picture is worth thousand words

6. 
 Police in India, is governed by the colonial Police Act
of 1861 enacted by the British.
 This act was meant for subjects and not for the free
citizens of a democracy.
 A global survey* showed that at best, the Police are
inactive; at worst they "actively harass, oppress and
brutalise”.
So what has gone wrong ?
* "The World Bank: Can anyone hear us? Voices from 47 countries, December, 1999" cited in "Police Practices: Obstruction to Poor
People's Access to Justice", G. P. Joshi, (Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Publication, 2003) , p. 7 para 1

7. 
 The relation between the police and the public has reached a
point where the citizens rather avoid reporting a crime to the
police.
 In a survey done by Transparency International India in 2005,
 87% of the respondent to the survey agreed that there was
corruption in the police force,
 74% felt that the quality of service they received was
inadequate and
 47% were compelled to pay a bribe for their FIR to get filed.
Loss of Public faith

8. 
 Hence, there is an urgent need to reform the Indian
Police System.
Need for Reform

9. 
 India has one of the finest selection processes for IPS
officers which is backed by excellent training at the
National Police Academy in Hyderabad.
 Unfortunately the same cannot be said of the
selection system at the state level where officers
below the ranks of DSPs are recruited.
 Favouritism, corruption and casteism play a major
role in this process.
Selection, Promotion & Transfer

10. 
 The recommendations made by the National Police
Commission in 1979, aimed at insulating the police
from illegitimate outside control, pressure and
interference remain unimplemented till today.
 So, what we need is a strong political will to make
the selection, promotion and transfer procedure of
the police officials more transparent, and based on
merit
Solution

11. 
 “Nearly 90 per cent of the police forces in the country is
comprised of the constabulary. Unlike in the past, more and
more educated men and women are voluntarily joining the police
at this entry level, in expectation of a satisfying career. This
precious resource will have to be protected. This is not possible
under the existing state of affairs, where obedience and servility
to the senior officers and the political masters are the main
criteria for advancement and placement in meaningful jobs
within the police. If professional excellence has to be nurtured,
we owe them the right working conditions in which they can
give of their best. Such an ambience cannot come about without
implementing the most crucial National Police Commission
recommendations that are gathering dust in North Block and in
State Secretariats.”
In an open letter to former President Abdul Kalam the former CBI
director R.K. Raghavan had this to say

12. 
 Since the police is answerable to the politicians, they
tend to wield their power over the policemen.
 Recently, a DSP was beaten to death in Deoria, Uttar
Pradesh, because he did not agree to listen to the
whims of a powerful minister – Raja Bhaiyya.
 Hence, there is an immediate need to make the police
body, free from the shackles of the politicians.
Freeing the Police from Politics

13. 
 Crime by police officials and in police stations has
been increasing with cases about custodial deaths
and rape of women detainees making headlines.
Often victims of crime or even riots are treated with
utter contempt as if they deserved what they had
undergone. This is mainly due to the lack of
awareness of human rights among policemen. Even
during their basic training policemen need to be
sensitized about human rights and how to handle
sensitive cases.
Training & Sensitization

14. 
 Interpretation of laws has been another weak point in the
Indian police system, especially when it concerns those like
Sub-inspectors and constables.
 For example in the recent controversy where two girls were
arrested by the Maharashtra Police over a facebook status, the
Court rebuked the police officers for their poor interpretation
of Section 66 of the IT Act.
 In the name of moral policing even law abiding citizens are
made to appear like criminals by some overzealous cops.
 There should be constant up gradation of knowledge and
skills.
Interpretation of laws

15. 
 Women comprise just 3.98 per cent of the country's total
police force.
 The creation of women police stations will be a positive
development since women police by their nature are better
equipped to take a sympathetic approach in issues like
domestic violence, dowry harassment and child abuse.
 Still our police, especially those manning the police
stations, need to be taught people skills and sensitized
about handling complainants who are already traumatized
due to mishap.
 All women bank ? What we clearly need more is
Women Police station.
Less no. of Women in Police

16. 
 Most state police departments are woefully
understaffed with a large number of vacancies.
 Fresh departments for anti-terrorism cell, VIP
security, cyber crime and human rights are created
but are not manned by the right people.
 According to a recent article in Times of India, Indian
Police needs 5,00,000 more policemen.
Inadequate Manpower

17. 
 Indian police remains one of the most ill equipped in
the world in spite of our country among the worst to
suffer due to terrorism.
 Our police lack fast vehicles, communication
equipment and even proper weapons. They appear
like comical figures carrying their outdated .303 rifles
whereas their adversaries are armed with AK 47s.
 Forensic tools to fight crime and technology to tackle
the growing instances of cyber crime are urgent needs
for an effective policing in these modern times.
Modernization of our police force

18. 
 India was the first country in the world to have a
finger print forensic laboratory in 1897.
 Today there are only 23 labs in the country compared
to 203 in the US.
 Currently there are only three Central Detective
Training Schools in India. The low number of schools
causes a problem to ensure continuous training for
the Indian police force.
 Greater resources need to be allocated towards
enhancing the capacity of forensic laboratories.
Did you know ?

19. 
 Three cops for a VIP compared to one cop for 761
ordinary citizens*
 In 2010, 16,788 VIPs were guarded by 50,059 police
personnel, which is 21,761 more than the sanctioned
deployment for their security.
 More Policemen should be employed for the citizens
of this country, rather than the VIP’s who can even
afford private guards.
Reduction of Policemen for
VIP/VVIP Security
*In UK and South Africa this ratio is 200.

20. 
 In a study on the "Image of Police in India”*, over 50% of
the respondents mentioned 'non registration of complaint'
as a pervasive malpractice in police stations.
 The Law Commission of India examined the subject and
recommended that any officer who refused to record an
FIR be subject to imprisonment for a term of one year or
fine or both.
 However the government blatantly refused to accept this
recommendation which could have been a potent armour
in the hands of citizens against police harassment.
Grievance Redressal
*The National Police Commission, Government of India, Fourth Report, June 1980, p. 1

21. 
 A Toll Free Number should be made available to all the
people to complaint against the police officers.
 The call should be recorded, a complaint registered, and a
notice should be sent to the concerned police officer to
explain his inaction to file FIR within the next 24 hours.
 Failing to reply to the notice, they should be
fined/suspended based on their record.
 A local police ombudsman, i.e., an Independent oversight
body that will have jurisdiction over complaints of
obstruction of justice and abuse of authority by the police,
needs to be set up.
An alternate solution

22. 
 We need forceful laws to back our policemen.
Outdated laws, judicial loopholes and adequate legal
safeguards for witnesses have resulted in many a
confirmed criminal walking free without conviction.
 In the famous Jessica Lal case in Delhi where the
killer, who is the son of a leading politician, could
walk free by getting the eye witnesses to turn hostile
due to which the police were unable to prove his
guilt. If only we had strong laws against perjury, as
in Britain, it would make witnesses think twice
before retracting their statements.
Judicial backing to the Police

23. 
 Hafiz Saeed, a well known terrorist, was ably caught
by our police. But was let off by the government.
 Many of our laws drafted to fight crime also need to
be modified keeping in mind, the changed
conditions of the society and modern techniques of
the criminal.
Judicial backing to the Police

24. 
 To substantially improve the functioning of Indian
police force and enhance its public accountability
there should be a three way division of functions
into:
 an independent crime investigation mechanism,
 maintenance of law and order and
 local police force (district level) units.
It is high time to bring in a new police system in India to ensure greater
accountability, efficiency and a citizen service minded approach.

25. 
 The prescription for carrying out police reforms
already exists in the form of findings of various
police commissions, judicial pronouncements and
advice of retired police officers. Only the political
will to implement them, is woefully lacking.

26. 
Thank you