A swell police force for a forward March

The call for a police force that is modern, sensitive, and leverages technology and older practices to serve the people better is timely and much-needed. PM Modi's push for a police force that is responsive, at the 57th All-India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police, must be taken seriously.

A responsive police force that is fit for the purpose must leverage technology to address the needs of a diverse population, strengthening older practices such as foot patrol and community engagement, and greater interaction with other law-and-order agencies, particularly in the big cities. This will help reduce the people's mistrust of police, abate rising petty crimes and address the needs of at-risk youth. The police also need to be well-versed in the use of technology given the prevalence of cybercrimes. Police cannot act in a silo; it must interact and engage with other law-enforcement agencies. At the same, the police must take measures to prevent its politicisation. Being seen as an extension of the ruling party or the local strongman, as has been seen in some states, is not conducive to improved policing. This undermines people's faith and ability to trust the police. There is a need to increase the sensitivity training of the police personnel on gender, religion and caste. A police force that is not sensitive to the diversity of the population is incapable of serving it.

Given the size of the population, improved policing and law enforcement requires adequate numbers of personnel on the ground. The on-ground police force is less than required in most states, even as tending to VIPs takes precedence. Without adding the requisite numbers to the police force, all efforts for a fit-for-purpose police force will be ineffective.