| Area of Concern |
Summary Problem |
Summary Solution |
Outdated Governing Law
Need: To revisiting the constitution of police forces in the country through legislative changes |
The archaic laws governing Indian police (Indian Police Act of 1861) need to be modified immediately to match the current needs of society. |
The Police Act 1861 needs to be replaced by suitable legislations which reflect the democratic nature of India’s polity and the changing times. The Model Police Act is a step in this direction, the Supreme Court ordered directives for it's implementation in 2006. |
Outdated Governing Law
Need: To revisiting the constitution of police forces in the country through legislative changes |
No unifying Police Act is applicable pan India. The Police Act of 1861 or it's variation are used by various states. |
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Outdated Governing Law
Need: To revisiting the constitution of police forces in the country through legislative changes |
The Indian Police's role as per the act is a reactive role of mainting law and order instead of protecting human rights. |
It is essential to reorganize the police and to make it a more efficient instrument for the prevention and detection of crime. State-led efforts are being made on this front. |
Outdated Governing Law
Need: To revisiting the constitution of police forces in the country through legislative changes |
Poor Implementation of the 2006 Supreme Court Directives around the Model Police Act. |
Civil Society interventions are working on monitoring the implementation process and increasing accountability. |
Outdated Governing Law
Need: To revisiting the constitution of police forces in the country through legislative changes |
Implementation practices such as hand-cuffing which are argued to be in violation of Human rights. |
Mandatory handcuffing has been held by the Supreme Court as violation of Article 21 of the Constitution.
However, the Supreme Court directive in the matter was criticized for not being clear, and leaving things open to subjective interpretation. |
Capacity Gaps
Need: To improve police ratio in comparison to citizens |
India has one of the lowest per capita police rates. |
Focus on creation of adequate training facilities with provisions of high quality trainers who are correctly incentivised to become trainers. |
Capacity Gaps
Need: To improve police ratio in comparison to citizens |
Owing to capacity gaps, the work load on each existing police personell is too high. |
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Capacity Gaps
Need: To improve police ratio in comparison to citizens |
Not representative of religious minorities, caste minorities and women. Despite reservation, number remain low and promotions remain biased. |
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Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Most state police forces continue to use obsolete equipment and arms. |
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Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Lack of latest technology that would help in investigation and intelligence-gathering leading to poor case investigation. |
Along side of improving tech, working on expanding police capacity and separating different departments for different tasks. Technology can also increase transparency |
Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Poor collection and analysis of preventive intelligence. Continued use of outdated technologie leading to poor quality of investigation. |
An overall technological upgrade, and scaling-up the use of technology is necessary for improving the performance of police, enhancing tracking systems, and improving communication systems. |
Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Lack of proper training for police professionals |
Institutions need to be upgraded in terms of facilities, equipment and technology. Refresher training courses need to be made available to police personnel. |
Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Policing takes a toll as it is a 24x7 job without any work-life balance. |
Introducing healthier work hours in the form of shift systems to improve one's quality of life.
NS Hypothesis: Would an improved quality of work-life balance, increase motivation on-the job? Studies can help establish this link. |
Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Lack of provision of accommodating impacts the quality of one's life |
Undertake proper utilization of funds, housing construction programmes and assure provision of quality housing for all gazzetted officer along with their families. |
Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Hard infrastructure needs a total overhaul. |
Increase in provision of basic facilities while assuring high quality. Ensure complete and proper utilization of allocated funds. |
Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Lack of growth incentives for constables |
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Poor Working Conditions
Need: To improve infrastructure for police personell, and overall work environment |
Mishandling of budget allocations |
Continued audits by CAG, and civil society |
| Political Interference |
No set rules and regular leave more scope for political interference |
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| Political Interference |
The guiding laws undermine the Judiciary, and instead lend power to state gorvernments leading to politicization of the police and undue leaning towards ruling political parties. |
Strengthening of internal and external accountability measures |
| Political Interference |
Biased attitude towards taking action against people with political connections. |
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| Political Interference |
Police officers who remain unbiased in the face of political interference can often be sujected to unexpected transfers, and dismissals. |
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| Political Interference |
Exercising political control to ensure an equation of fear is maintained between police and citizens, so as to exploit police officials for political gains. |
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| Political Interference |
Political Interference leading to frequents transfers, and promotions which are given on the basis of personal preference and not merit. |
Fix a minimum tenure to avoid ad-hoc transfers |
| Political Interference |
Arbitrariness in the appointment of the highest ranking police officer, appointments made on considerations of personal preference and posts held at the caprice of the political executive leading to uncertainty of office and tenure. |
Accountability in selection of DGP |
Lack Accountability
Need: State and civil society led measures which press for higher internal and external accountability |
Lack of accountability measures cause misuse of power to maintain law and order |
Separation of investigating police from law and order police. Design strong internal accountability measures. |
Lack Accountability
Need: State and civil society led measures which press for higher internal and external accountability |
They allow for supporting organized crime |
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Lack Accountability
Need: State and civil society led measures which press for higher internal and external accountability |
Low accountability leads to decreased filing of FIRs and increaed corruption |
Designing systems to increase accountability. |
Lack Accountability
Need: State and civil society led measures which press for higher internal and external accountability |
No fixed system for performance review adds to low accountability |
Creating systems for performance appraisals |
Lack Accountability
Need: State and civil society led measures which press for higher internal and external accountability |
Lack of accountability in cases of custodial torture/death |
Role of media and civil society in highlighting key issues and pushing for accountability within the police, and justice from the judiciary in cases of custodial violence |
Poor Police, Citizen Relations
Need: To build mutual trust, empathy, respect and strong communication |
Poor police public relations owing to people's lack of faith in the police. |
Incorporate positive attitude shift trainings compulsarily for all polcie professionals alongside of upskilling. Attending these can be made mandatory for promotions. |
Poor Police, Citizen Relations
Need: To build mutual trust, empathy, respect and strong communication |
Fear of engaging with police or any legal proceedings |
One potential way of improving the linkage between performance management in policing and professional practice is through public participation in policing also known as community or neighbourhood policing. Community policing has certainly been introduced in states and union territories but more needs to be done in this field. |
Poor Police, Citizen Relations
Need: To build mutual trust, empathy, respect and strong communication |
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Poor Police, Citizen Relations
Need: To build mutual trust, empathy, respect and strong communication |
Negative opinion of the police, and high belief that they discriminate based on religion. a peculiar dissonance surrounding policing: even as citizens’ continue to fear the police, they simultaneously show considerable satisfaction with the rule of law. This puzzling coexistence of despair and hope is illustrated through many findings: while a large number of people were willing to approach the police if the need arises, in the same breath they also shared that they do not expect police officers to give them fair and equal treatment (Common Cause) |
Push for implemntation of 6 key 2006 Supreme Court Directives |