Enhancing police capacity

Even our shorthanded police force spread thin on protocol and VIP duties, tailing political processions, maintaining watch over rallies and controlling opposition and other forms of demonstrations. With an increase in police capacity, the same kind of deployment at the expense of crime control and prosecution should be avoided; otherwise, the same malady will only be exacerbated.

The plan is to be implemented by the government over the period of three years i.e. during the remainder of its tenure. We hope that the recruitment policy would be devoid of any political overtone so that neutrality of the fresh complement is fully guaranteed. This would help allay any apprehension of the police being used for any partisan purposes.

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Equally important would be to seal off the routes of abuse of power and corruption. The government needs to recast the laws or provisions of laws that are often misused by the police, widely violating human rights in the process. Simultaneously, the much-awaited police reform should come about; in fact precede the force's expansion. A simple increase in the manpower is not likely to bring about the desired result; on the contrary, it can have the opposite effect unless it is preceded by necessary reforms.

There is one more factor crying for attention. Unless the salary structure of the police force is improved substantially, taking into account the considerations of a living wage and their occupational hazards, their moral obligations not to resort to corruption cannot be effectively enforced.