Editorial
CA's call to the law enforcers
A professional police force underscores good governance
The call by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed to the police to discharge their duties in the best interests of society is certainly of the kind that needs to be sounded insistently because of what our police force have been unable to do so far for citizens.
We cannot obviously ignore the many factors which have prevented the police all these years from operating in a fully professional manner. Note among these the political influence brought to bear on them by successive governments, with the result that they have generally felt helpless and consequently have not delivered the services expected of them. That said, there are other compelling reasons why the police force as a major law enforcing body has been perceived to be insensitive to public concerns. It is such insensitivity that the CA was clearly addressing the other day. His call for the police to avoid harassing people who approach them for assistance is one which resonates with a very large body of citizens. Despite all the exhortations that have been sounded so long about the police and the public establishing or maintaining friendly links, the fact remains that ordinary citizens are still wary when it comes to dealing with the police or soliciting their help in matters of grave concern to them individually or collectively. Obviously, such barriers must be removed, in the larger, enlightened interest of a good, stable and working social order.
The observance of a police week should therefore be a time for policemen, from the top ranks to the bottom ones, to take stock of their performance. Honesty and dedication to public service are ideas that can be made tangible once the police take it upon themselves to investigate crime thoroughly and conclusively. There is too the danger that militancy has thrown up, a peril that only the presence of a purposeful police force can roll back. Overall, the lesson that ought to be learnt anew in the on-going police week is that a strong, professional police force promotes rule of law and contributes to good governance in the country.
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