What Plagues Indian Police?

Police in any country is the interface between the government and the citizens. By its very role the police needs to ensure the safety of the citizens and ensure their rights as granted by the constitution of the country.

Even a casual encounter by Indian police evokes fear, skepticism, nepotism, corruption and lot worse depending on which part of the country are you in. The accountability standards as compared to westernized world simply don’t exist barring a few major cities. A similar such encounter with a westernized nation police force evokes security, courtesy, reading of your rights, fair and equitable treatment. What is then the reason of this deep chasm in behavior?

The modern day Indian police have its root in the colonial era when Britain occupied India. The oppressive regime that British built with the help of police to silence the citizens in many ways continue even today. The modern day police institutions and policy still sadly reflects lots of colonial practices.

There are a lot of issues that plagues the police notably:

1. The rank and file of Indian Police still have very low level of education. Most of the policemen below the role of Sub-Inspector barely have school degrees
2. Too much interference and abuse by the political system. This is probably the single most contributing factor for the Indian police to be seen the way the citizens see it today
3. The police force is a reflection of the society in general, the gender bias, oppression towards the weaker section of the society, tolerance towards child labor practices and all such heinous crimes that could bring severe punishment in the westernized world goes almost unchecked in India
4. Hardly any accountability to the citizens.
5. Police job pays considerably less than the corresponding jobs in other industries that do not allow the police jobs to be considered as career options by our youths. 95% of the police jobs are taken by youths who have failed to achieve other career objectives
6. Extreme corruption – This is not just an internal police issue but sadly reflects the society in general
7. police density (no. of policeman/1000 citizens) is considerably less than other developed countries)
8. Lack of citizens and police friendly legislations that allows reporting of crime to police without the fear of harassment
9. Lack of judicial reforms resulting in delayed justice putting even more pressure on fragile police systems
10. Lack of community policing that does not allow the citizens to get involved in helping police

I am more than willing to help develop a strategic plan to make Indian police ready for a new India in which the citizens need not fear to interact provided I am given the right authority with no interference from the political system. Will you help me?