The Hindu : Kerala News : Need to work together to solve community problems

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Thursday, Sep 07, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Need to work together to solve community problems

The Kerala Government has announced plans to improve relations between the police and the people, especially in the wake of alleged custodial deaths and police-related `accidents' reported from parts of the State. What do you suggest to help the Government make its mission a success? Our readers respond:

Ensure accountability

If the current scenario is any indication, the police system leaves much to be desired in respect of structure, supervision and efficiency.

The vocabulary of the constabulary is abysmally bad. The body language of the force is abhorrent.

The `third-degree methods' relied on by the police to interrogate criminals are brutal and an affront to civil society.

The first Police Act, passed in 1861, or the subsequent amendments thereto or the recommendations of the various police commissions could not purge the system of its colonial hangover or its intrinsic hierarchic anarchy.

No one is born a criminal. Factors that lead to crime are manifold.

Failure of the individual to get existential recognition, compulsion of circumstances, abject poverty, social ostracism, personality distortions and the like count as contributors factors. That torture can be used to curb criminality is a myth. Torture brutalises the subject.

The police are accountable to the community or the people, as the etymology of the term implies.

It is derived from the Latin word politia, which means polity or policy.

The mention of the police creates dread and aversion among the people.

They curb, against their conscience, the impulse to render services to a crime victim because of the prospect of a visit to the police station or a possible encounter with the personnel. This is a critical social condition.

Yet, there are excellent professionals in the force, sensitive to social needs.

Only a microscopic minority causes the damage.

Quality control should begin at the recruitment and training stage.

The antecedents of the prospective candidates should be thoroughly screened. The training process and modules should ensure that they leave the training institute a complete professional.

Technological innovations such as polygraph and DNA fingerprinting shall be used to detect crimes.

N. Sadasivan Pillai
Kollam

Establish rapport with people

The common man is afraid of the police because of reports of custodial deaths and fatal injuries to some of those taken into custody.

Some policemen behave as if they have the right to take anyone into custody and prove crimes using whatever means they like. They do not take the people into confidence.

This approach should be changed. It is against democratic values.

The police should assist the people in living happily and peacefully. Both can work together on issues of law and order. The sub-inspectors should be empowered to convene meetings of people to discuss issues of concern.

This will pave the way for better interaction between them. The police station should become a place where people can present their problems.

It will become easier to nab culprits once the police have established a close rapport with the people.

The Government, in consultation with the Opposition parties and other important personalities, can chalk out plans for free and fair functioning of the force. There may be differences of opinion, but the Government should take the initiative for constructive change.

New recruits to the force should be given adequate training on subjects such as human rights and civics. Regular refresher courses will also help.

The Home Minister's recent statement that those responsible for custodial deaths would be removed from service is welcome.

The woes of police personnel should also be given attention. Their working conditions should be improved.

Prakasan N
Thiruvananthapuram

People-friendly attitude

A healthy relationship between the police and the public is necessary in a welfare State. But the recent custodial deaths and police-related `accidents' have done it a lot of damage. This problem requires an immediate solution.

The police must record all arrests. The Government should ensure that all arrests are according to Supreme Court guidelines. There should be no pending, under-investigation cases.

The fast-track courts can help by making quick decisions. This will certainly help suspects in distress.

Reception centres should be set up at all police stations. The people should have direct access to top police functionaries.

The police must treat those who come to register complaints with respect.

Interactive sessions between the police and the public must be organised through residents' associations, Rotary and Lions clubs and the like. Community policing is a welcome step.

The police should be duty-minded and the public should be aware of fundamental rights.

Awareness camps should be organised to keep them informed. The public should cooperate with police functionaries to maintain law and order.

Shreya A.S
Thiruvananthapuram

Make people aware

People should be made aware of their rights and the services they can avail themselves of from a police station. Campaigns, using material such as leaflets, can be used to inform them of the rules and regulations to be followed by the police.

There should be an element of transparency regarding what happens in a police station.

The modus operandi of the police force to track down criminals must have support from society.

In order to attain this, attention should be given to people's participation with the police authorities.

Everyone should have the freedom to submit his or her grievances to the local police at any point of time. The behaviour of the local police must be very professional and friendly. Proper training should be given to the police force for this purpose.

The tracking down of criminals should involve use of sophisticated means and intelligence rather than the run and chase method. Primary interrogation and data collection should be psychologically framed so that people in custody cooperate.

Information about the police 24-hour contact numbers, email addresses, hotlines and helpline should be made available. Free legal assistance from the Government should be made available so that everyone is provided information on the various rules, even in custody. A rapid medical assistance and care unit should be set up to ensure proper safety of those in custody.

Veys Essem
Thiruvananthapuram

Spot interference in police

The police force, over the years, have earned the wrath of the people primarily because they act at the behest of the party in power, even when it is not in conformity with the statute book and contrary to the basic concepts of democratic rule.

People are aware of their rights. When these are trampled upon with muscle power, they are bound to react and retaliate. Violence by the police and against the police should be viewed in this context.

The only way out is to stop interference in the functioning of the police, be it political or from any other organised section.

If the police are allowed to carry out their work without fear and favour, there will not be any occasion for custodial deaths and other brutalities.

The guilty should be punished and not protected, fearing the wrath of their associations which have political support and patronage.

The Government in power usually takes action only when the guilty belong to other parties. This double standard should end in public interest.

The prevailing situation will change only if political parties shed their patronage to police and civil servants.

K.P. Karunakaran Nair
general secretary
Confederation of Residents' Associations

Give criminals a second chance

The number of people dying in custody is increasing. Necessary and predetermined steps have to be taken to reinforce a good relationship between police and the people.

There should be a change in the attitude of the police.

"Muscle power makes iron more rigid."

Those who commit crimes are not criminals since birth. They end up taking to crime owing to reasons such as unfavourable circumstances.

But like all humans, they possess inborn qualities. These should be tapped to mould their characters.

They can be given counselling and attempts should be made to solve their problems. Entertainment programmes can be arranged in jails.

Meditation and yoga practice can also help. There is no one in this world who has not made any mistake.

Theertha M.C
Nedumangad

Image makeover

That the police are friends and not foes should be made known to the public. But how can the people be made to understand this? Proper publicity is one of the ways.

Whenever people approach the police or if they are a witness, they are forced to make frequent visits to the police station.

This should change. The police should treat those who come to the station with respect and listen to problems carefully. Most people are still under the impression that the police are not for the common man but for a few elite.

The police should make no distinction between the rich and the poor.

The media such as newspapers and television and the public should be used to identify culprits.

The police should not protect criminals, even if they enjoy political patronage.

Criminals should not be released without interrogation and punishment.

Laws should be made in such a manner that the innocent are protected and not exploited, and the culprits punished and not released.

K. Selvaraj
Thiruvananthapuram

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