Conference of top cops, attended by PM Narendra Modi, must not ignore basic policing problems

Source: The post is based on an article “Conference of top cops, attended by PM Narendra Modi, must not ignore basic policing problems” published in The Indian Express on 25^th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance

Relevance: concerns associated with the Indian police system

News: The Indian police system has lots of concerns but these concerns are not often discussed at the conference of the Directors General of Police of all the states and union territories held recently.

What are the concerns with the Indian police system?

The conference of the Directors General of Police of all the states and union territories is held every year but it ignores the problem present in the Indian policy at grass roots level.

For example, the average police station in India presents a dismal picture such as case property like motorcycles and cars littered all over the compound, no reception room, filthy lockup, etc.

The staff are overworked, fatigued, generally unresponsive, and with little resources.

According to the Status of Policing in India Report 2019, police in India work at 77 percent of their sanctioned strength and work for 14 hours a day on average.

There are 70 police stations which have no wireless, 214 police stations that have no telephone and 240 police stations that have no vehicles.

Police personnel usually get unsatisfactory housing facilities, their training is not as per the recent emerging threats.

Further, it is estimated that since Independence, 36,044 police personnel have died in the performance of their duties. This signifies that the police duties in India are tougher than in any other part of the world.

What measures are required to improve the functioning of Indian police?

First, the police station must be reinforced with upgradation of its infrastructure, better transport, communication and forensic facilities.

Second, the format of the annual conference of all DGPs should be changed. The conference should be divided into two parts, one dealing with intelligence matters and the other dealing with crime and law and order issues. It is necessary because crime is increasingly becoming more complex and requires specialized treatment.

Third, the concept of SMART police should be achieved in order bring the change in in the working of the police.