Events & Issues
New Delhi, 7 December 2016
Police Training
OUGHT TO BE VALUE-BASED
By Dr S Saraswathi
(Former Director,
ICSSR, New Delhi)
It is imperative to bring about a qualitative change in
policing and training of police. The opinion is of none other than Prime
Minister Modi, which he shared with top police officials at the annual
conference of DGs/AGs at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
National Police
Academy in Hyderabad recently. His advice, coming soon
after his reference to creation of smart police, has immense practical
significance. It is pointer to the creation of a value-based police trained in
professional skills and imbued with qualities needed to handle human problems
in human setting.
The PM emphasised that both technology and human interface
were equally important in policing as the security scenario in the country had
changed. Several technological devices are already introduced in crime
prevention and detection work as the country is able and willing to accept
modernisation in this field. But, on the side of improving the human aspect of
the tough and rough job of policing, our record shows rather slow progress.
The fault is not entirely in the police organisation. The
society has to set the standard for policing – the mission and vision – and
help police to maintain the standard in its functioning. The police and the
society it serves are interdependent and must cherish mutual respect and
understanding.
Presently, people-police relationship is far from cordial.
People do not normally seek police help unless compelled to do so in grave
crimes and losses. Public engagement in police tasks, a concept accepted in
many countries, is known in India
also, but not much practiced.
Modi hinted that knowledge of certain human and social sciences
were necessary for policemen. He
mentioned inclusion of subjects like human psychology and behavioural patterns
in the training curriculum for police forces and adoption of new training
modules to improve leadership skills needed at various levels.
Compulsory indoor subjects in the training of police officer
presently include law, legal procedure, forensic sciences, weapons training,
etc. necessary for crime control, and also lessons in leadership and
management, and ethics and human rights. A qualitative change is now sought to
be introduced which, if adopted with suitable programmes, will lead to
establishment of community-based, people-friendly, and problem-oriented
policing in the place of mechanical law
enforcing and coercive police authority.
The Mission Statement of the National Police
Academy states that it
will endeavour to inculcate in the students such values and norms as would help
them serve people better, respect human rights, and acquire liberal perspective
of law and justice, high standard of professionalism, physical fitness and
mental alertness.
The Vision is upholding the Rule of Law and respect for
national values such as secularism, democracy, equality, and service to people,
and ensuring the dignity and human rights of the citizens with sensitivity. Way
back in 1968, Khosla Commission on police reforms has said that “the
Constitution has laid down that people themselves are the rulers, so the police must also be the people’s
police”.
Since then, several organisational changes have been made
and technological innovations have been adopted in the police. The verdict of
the Supreme Court in Prakash Singh case in 2006 gave seven binding directions
to the States and Union
Territories mostly
relating to organisational matters.
Qualitative change in training is now due in all aspects of
policing – crime detection and prevention and treating suspects, offenders,
victims, and onlookers. The quest for quality training in police work is going
on in many countries since the world has progressed from the concept of a
purely police state to people’s democracy with the focus on people’s welfare.
Though police in any kind of regime is a social instrument to protect life and
property, it is looked upon mainly as a law-enforcing authority vested with
required coercive powers to deal with people.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation of the US enumerates
the crucial characteristics of an ideal police officer in one of its Bulletins
as initiative, sense of ethics, knowledge of law, communication skills, common
sense, civility, service mentality, humility, controlled temper, and thirst for
new knowledge. Men in uniform in any democratic order must possess these
qualities which can be taught and also self-promoted.
Laws are sought to be maintained by the police through
orders, prescriptions, restrictions, prohibitions, warnings, apprehensions, and
punishments. Police manuals govern day-to-day work. These forms of traditional
police rule still hold good. There is need to adapt them to accommodate hard
won expansion of freedoms – freedom of expression, civil rights, and human
rights.
A true policeman has to observe the values of the community
he serves within the parameters of law. There is, therefore, need to impart
value-based training for police personnel to impart ability to respect
individual and group rights while enforcing law.
Values are not mere abstract qualities. They are the guiding
force of an organisation and the behaviour of its employees. They are basic to
encourage excellence and to inspire enthusiasm.
Organistional values stimulate quest for exemplary behaviour and a
healthy competition for excellence among police personnel. They promote
personal and professional standards. The police should respect the public and
show courtesy while firmly discharging its duties.
The police is governed by rules and regulations for every
action regarding what to do, when, and how. They have been developed over years
of experience in dealing with law-breakers and criminals. There is little room
for innovations and individual judgement within policy prescriptions and
procedural guidelines. But a great deal of free space is available in taking
cognizance of offences where police has the powers to take action without
complaint. Here, the integrity and impartiality of the police personnel and the
duty to preserve rights and freedoms come into play. This can be promoted by value-based
policing alone. Integrity of the police is fundamental to legitimacy and public
trust.
Values also help continuity of the organisation in times of
turmoil and transition, regime changes, and leadership transfers. In the Indian
context, values help police to stick to its principles and duties whenever
government changes from one party to another. They help avoid intra-organisational
conflicts.
Certain terms have come into common use to conceal common
police excesses. Thus, abduction is presented as “informal arrest”, wrongful
confinement as “illegal detention”, third degree torture methods as
“interrogation in depth”, and police support for particular leaders/parties as
“committed police”. Such excesses will have no place in value-based and
quality-conscious policing.
State Governments are running State Police Academies for
training State level police officials.
These academies have also introduced teaching modules for qualitative
improvements. The Kerala
Police Academy,
for instance, is planning to revise the syllabus to include modules to combat
mental stress and physical fitness of the police. Yoga is already introduced in
the basic training course.
The Mission of the Punjab Police
Academy is to prepare
police officials who will lead and command the force with courage, uprightness,
dedication, and a strong sense of service to the people through emphasis on
higher education, technological advancement, and human rights. Similar is the training in other States
also.
We now need qualitative change in attitudes and behaviour of
the police. It is necessary to train the police to be sensitive to the demands
of the average citizens and to respond not only legally, but with a human
touch. The goal is to make the police efficient, democratic, and humane. ---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature
Alliance)
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