Police Public Relations: Need for Change

The constitution of India provides us ample environment to live with dignity and liberty. It also ensures socio-economic and political justice to the people. But our police administration is not able to work in accordance with the constitutional values. Everyone knows that police administration does not honour the democratic values in providing requisite protection to the common masses. In turn, they have resentment against the police. The police personnel prefer to serve the vested interests of the politicians and do not provide justice to the common people. The image of police is not good because of unnecessary intervention of politicians, bribe, incompetency, rude behaviour, indifferent attitude and non cooperation. This may be due to limited staff, lack of infrastructure, lack of e-governance, unhygienic working conditions, castism, violation of rules, biased working etc. All these factors adversely affect the relations between police and public. It can be bridged by and through taking some concrete steps like sound policy for police, political commitment, good training, handsome salaries and allowances, homes and schools for their children, leave provision, infrastructural development, frequent police-public interactions, awards and punishment attitudinal change, regular monitoring and follow up actions, political and administrative commitments, e-governance, autonomy and accountability.