Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the DGP–IGP conference in Raipur, urged the senior police officers to transform the public perception of the police, especially among the youth by enhancing professionalism, sensitivity and responsiveness.

Background

• Colonial Model: Despite 78 years of independence, India’s police force still operates under the 1861 Police Act, which the British created to protect their imperial interests and maintain control over their subjects as the “Ruler and Subject” model.
• Requirement: Today, a democracy needs a service-oriented police force, not a force-oriented one.

Core Issues Associated With Police Service

• Ground Reality: Public trust must be earned, not simply ordered.
  • Police stations often exhibit indifference and rudeness, making ordinary citizens afraid to visit.
• Attitude Reform: Police must adopt courtesy, patience, politeness, and respect when dealing with the public, similar to employees in private companies.
• Working of Crime: A major public frustration is the police refusing or delaying the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs). 
  • This is known as the “Burking of Crime” i.e practice of police deliberately avoiding the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) to manipulate crime statistics, often leading to underreporting of crimes.
• Investigation Quality: Investigations frequently rely on shortcuts, such as using force or pressure (“Third Degree”) to extract confessions from accused persons. 
  • This is a violation of human rights, and such evidence often fails to stand up in court, allowing the real culprits to escape.
• Custodial Violence: Violence committed by police while in custody severely erodes public trust. 

Modern Solutions

• Technological Game-Changers: Online FIR filing to eliminate the need to visit a police station making justice more accessible, citizen-friendly, and free from procedural delays.
  • CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System) to bring transparency.
  • CCTV-monitored rooms in police stations to record officer conduct
• Scientific Investigation: A scientific approach is necessary, utilizing tools from biology and chemistry, tracking digital footprints, and using data for crime prediction.
• New Laws: The recently introduced laws, such as the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, require that forensic teams must visit the crime spot for investigations in cases where the potential punishment is seven years or more.

Structural Reforms (Prakash Singh Guidelines, 2006)

• About Prakash Singh Judgement: Prakash Singh, who served as DGP of UP Police and Assam Police besides other postings, filed a PIL in the Supreme Court post retirement, in 1996, seeking police reforms. 
  • In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court in September 2006 had directed all states and Union Territories to bring in police reforms. 
  • The ruling issued a series of measures that were to be undertaken by the governments to ensure the police could do their work without worrying about any political interference.
• Seven Main Directives Suggested By the Supreme Court: 
• • State Security Commission: A buffer body to protect the police from improper governmental pressure.
  • Fixed Tenure: A minimum of two years for the Director General of Police (DGP) and field officers, allowing them to work without fear of arbitrary transfer.
  • Separation of Wings: Dedicated, separate departments for Law and Order duties and for Investigation, as the latter requires peace and focus.
  • Police Establishment Board (PEB): This board should handle transfers and promotions, removing ministerial control.
  • Infrastructure and Resources: Police forces cannot deliver 21st-century results with 20th-century infrastructure. Requirements include better manpower proportionate to the population, better vehicles, communication, world-class forensic labs, and cyber units.

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Community Policing and Media Role

• Community Policing: Police must engage with the public in non-crime contexts, such as through youth clubs, school safety programmes, and traffic drives, because trust is a two-way street. 
  • The Janam Maitri Suraksha Project in Kerala is cited as a successful example.
• Citizen Duty: Citizens also have a responsibility to cooperate, follow traffic rules, and act as court witnesses.
• Media Role: The media plays a crucial role in shaping perception. 
  • It should act as a watchdog, exposing wrongdoing, but also highlighting stories of police bravery, innovation, and good work, instead of only sensationalizing news.

Conclusion

Police reform is an urgent need, requiring professionalism and sensitivity, and the Prakash Singh directives must be implemented in letter and spirit, treating the public as partners.

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