Kerala   

Stress on good working relationship

The Government is in the process of finalising the community policing system in Kerala. Residents' associations may have a major role in implementing it. What could be done to make this venture successful, in the urban areas as well as in rural pockets? Our readers respond:

Autonomy needed

Though the Police performance and accountability commission proposed several beneficial reforms, so long as the administrative control of the police rests with political organisations and most of the officers are prone to the whims and fancies of their political masters, there will not be any significant reduction in the crime rates.

Criminals and mafia organisations enjoying political patronage have to be wiped out by a team of senior police officers who should be made accountable only to a central police organisation vested with powers of legitimate control and superintendence over their duties. IPS officers should be vested with executive magisterial powers and authorised to expeditiously compound or condone petty offences in a deterrent manner. They should also be made answerable to undetected crimes and spurt in criminal offences and rewarded for their performance in crime prevention.

Joy Eapen

Vennikulam

Take the initiative

People generally aspire to have changes for the better in their lives. It depicts an overall progress in the community. However, the change also begets evil activities and they are now on the rampage. Hence, the security situation has worsened in the State. The State has only a limited police force to look after its safety. So it is not fully capable to deploy sufficient forces to check and quell crime in all sensitive areas.

Considering this, the public should take initiative to render voluntary service to aid the security agencies in ensuring safety. It is not difficult to do so as we have residents' associations in almost all urban and rural areas. Therefore, it is easy to set up volunteer groups in each area.

Places where there are no residents associations, set up a volunteer group at the panchayat level. It should consist of members of the residents, various clubs and organisations in the locality. The Sub-Inspector concerned should be the convener. First, implement the system in selected areas and observe its performance. If it is seen viable, implement it in other areas of the State.

Jyothysree

e-mail

Impart training

Community policing augments the various efforts taken by the law enforcing agencies. Community policing units can take up local issues relating to dumping of waste, parking, eve-teasing and so on. The first and foremost step would be to define the scope and set clear guidelines. Proper training should be given to the selected personnel. Steps should be taken to standardise their activities. A monitoring cell would make the system more effective.

Women and youngsters should be given due representation in these units. Care should be taken to ensure that these motivated residents are not creating any nuisance to others or taking the law onto their hands.

Reghu P.L

Thiruvananthapuram

Not an apt idea

Shifting the responsibility of policing to residents' associations in the name of community policing may not be apt. Only time will tell how far it could be successful.

A. Jacob Sahayam

Thiruvananthapuram

New responsibility

The community policing programme contemplated by the State Government is a commendable move that will narrow down the distance between the law enforcing machinery and the public.

Normally, people need not fear the police, but lawbreakers should. Unfortunately, the reverse is the order of the day. So, the police have to be made more people-friendly. The `criminal-friendly' image the police have come to acquire over the years needs a make over. The community policing initiative will serve the purpose in a big way.

Residents' associations can render help in making policing effective and meaningful. In urban areas, the floating population poses a serious threat to law and order. Residents' associations can keep the police posted with information on suspicious elements and or activities in their vicinity.

The Pol-Com reform introduced in Kochi has earned accolades from all quarters. Residents' associations create a lot of awareness about the role of the residents in keeping criminals, especially burglars, at bay. Periodic interaction between the police and the residents will not only dispel several misgivings about the police but also boost public confidence in the force. If the police and the public were to act in tandem, crime rate will plummet.

N.K.Vijayan

Kizhakkambalam

Good move

Community policing system with the help of residents' associations is a good move to deal with criminal elements and to minimise criminal activities if implemented properly. But the members of the public who are nominated to the squad for this purpose should not take law into their hands. Their duty should end with referring the matter to the police officials concerned. Such nominated persons should be without any active political affiliations and with clean character and habits. Some retired police officers who might be available in an area would prove useful with their experience in handling criminal cases. This system may be introduced on an experimental basis first.

C. George Varghese

Thrissur

Overburdened Residential associations are supposed to look after problems such as water, electricity, wastage, roads and drainage of a locality. In addition to this, if they are given further burden of community policing, it will become another problem for the residents of the locality. The office-bearers of residential associations are otherwise employed and they may not be getting sufficient time to meet the requirements of the authorities for the works, which they are not bound to do. It would be better if the local authorities themselves handled the issue

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Kochi

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Lease-expired forest lands to be taken over
Governor's assent to Devaswom ordinance
Stress on good working relationship
Poet with a cause
Buds school celebrates anniversary
Next issue
Taking stock
Clear stand
Briefly

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu