By Jacob Punnoose IPS,   Director General of Police ,Kerala, and  Chairman (Community Policing Implementation Committee )

The term Community Police does not refer to either a new police group or a local community group that undertakes policing work themselves.

 The London Metropolitan Police was set up in London in 1830; i.e. 178 years ago. It was as a result of the determination and inspiration of Sir Robert Peel that this prime example of a modern police force, viz. London Police, came into being. During those early days, the English jestingly used to call the policemen, a curiosity at the time, by the name London Bobby! Three decades ago, the name of the Kerala Police newsletter was Kerala Bobby. This name had been selected by a senior police officer of the time, whose dream was that the Kerala Police would garner praise and glory similar to that of the London Police, in its dealings and relationship with the public.

 Although the newsletter was discontinued sometime in the past, the expectation that the Kerala Police will indeed change to a “Kerala Bobby” respected by the people is, even today, widely prevalent in In 1829, Sir Robert Peel presented in Parliament nine basic principles with respect to the London Police. Community Policing, which we consider as a new idea of recent origin, was accepted even then as the blueprint for the London Police.

 Three of these principles are presented here: 1. The effectiveness of police work depends entirely upon the ability of the police to garner the respect of the public with respect to police actions and behaviour.

 2. If police are to gain the respect of the public, they must ensure the willing cooperation of the public in obeying

the law.

 3. The police must always remember that The Police are the public and the public are the Police.

  That is, Police are themselves a section of the public that draw salaries to perform duties that all citizens are expected to perform by themselves. It has been established that a policing style based on the above principles is essential for a community of free citizens; and that in spite of all the challenges thrown up by scientific and technological growth, social progress and world wars, the system has survived for 178 years. That is why, when awareness arose worldwide, that a police force modeled on the lines of an army is generally unsuitable for democratic societies, the principles underlying the London model of policing were accepted as the basis for a good policing style.

 When the British instituted a system of policing in India, the model chosen was not that of the London Police, but that of the Irish Armed Constabulary, instituted by the Government of England in the neighbouring country of Ireland, where British supremacy was ensured by the use of force. The main reason for this was that it was considered cheaper for Government to institute a police force rather than get police work done by the army. In this system, it was not felt necessary to have any role for citizens, their opinions or their cooperation. Traditionally, the viewpoint of the British Indian Police with respect to the cooperation of the public was: “Good if we receive it, but it is all right even otherwise”.

However, even after Independence, there were not many significant changes brought about in that system. In official circles, the old viewpoint about the cooperation of the public continued to hold sway. We were unsuccessful in bringing about the necessary behavioral changes or guidelines that would put into effect the principle that it is only proper that the laws passed by the people need to be enforced with the cooperation of the people themselves for their own safety.

 Law and Order is a basic need of the people. It is the duty of Government and the Police appointed by the Government to sub-serve this need of the people. An approach that provides security services to local communities appropriate to the circumstances and needs of the local communities, by enlisting the cooperation of the people and understanding their security needs is what is envisaged by Community Policing.

 Usually, the common man will go to an Indian Police Station only if there is no other alternative. Ordinarily a citizen does not like to complain to the Police about a trivial anti-social incident in the community. On the one hand, there is a nuisance caused by the anti-social element responsible for this incident, and on the other, there is a dislike to undergo the difficulties faced when complaining to the police, although this is, more often than not, based only on hearsay. It is not surprising, therefore, that one feels, It is better to suffer silently, let me not bother.

 However, this approach only increases the power and confidence of the said anti-social. It is only when the anti-social graduates to a goonda that he comes to the attention of the Police. By this time, however, using the money he has earned through his activities, he has already developed an influential network of supporters.

 Even if by any chance, police are enabled to take any action against him, the common man is afraid to be a witness against him. Thus, on one side, doubts about the Police, and on the other, a fear of the goonda. As a result, the citizen is effectively denied the rights conferred on him by the legal system in a democracy. At the same time, due to the fear of the citizens in coming forward as witnesses, the criminal gets the protection of the very same legal system! If this situation continues, the people will lose their faith in the democratic legal system as well as in the police. At least once in a while, they will hope for a good and all-powerful protector, and a police that readily delivers instant justice.

 Only if police stations evolve into establishments where citizens can enter without fear can we create a police organization that has the trust of the people. For this to happen, Keep all the people in fear, by this, all the criminals in the community will also be afraid; thus no one will commit crimes – this thought must be removed both from the police as well as from the community. If everyone fears the police, poor victims will hesitate to complain. Witnesses will not cooperate. Police will not receive information from the public. On the other hand, if people see the police as friends, with the cooperation of the good people that constitute a majority in the community, the criminal elements, which form only a small percentage can be controlled, and the laws enforced effectively.

  The total number of people who get arrested in one year in Kerala is about 1,50,000. Of this, the great majority are drivers who get involved in traffic accidents, and people who commit criminal acts on the spur of the moment. Those who get arrested for theft, robbery, goonda acts, etc. comprise only a very small percentage. The work of police to control these criminal elements, that come to less than ten thousand, will be much easier if the cooperation of the other 330 lakhs who are law-abiding citizens is enlisted. Faith in the legal system will increase. Rather than enforcing the law by making both the good and bad elements afraid of the police, it is better to counter the activities of the criminal elements with the cooperation of the 99.9% people who are, in general, law- abiding.

 In every locality, opportunities must be created to enable people to put forward their needs to the police as well as to encourage people to interact with the police. The feeling that police are their friends must be developed in the minds of the people. Only then will it be possible for people to enter police stations without fear. For this purpose, regular beat arrangements must be made, and public venues established where police and people interact on a regular basis, as well as common areas of mutual cooperation strengthened. It is good to wish that people will enter police stations without fear. It is easy to say that people should do so.

 But this is not a matter that can be achieved in a day or even maybe a decade. It will be possible only if the viewpoint about people within the police organization and the viewpoint about the police within the community undergo a change. I community policing is to fully succeed, the policeman should think that it is his duty to protect the status and dignity of the citizen, and the citizen must think that it is his responsibility to assist the policeman in his official duties. Also, everyone must unitedly think that it is the society’s common need that the law be enforced impartially; and everyone must act in accordance with this thought.

 Just like in other societies, even in our society, there are several problems that seriously affect the public’s sense of security as well as their happy and peaceful lives. But due to many reasons, these do not attract the necessary attention. In England, the number of offences per one lakh population is around 6000, while in India, this figure is less than 300. However, this does not mean that offences committed here are less; on the other hand, it only means that the majority of offences do not come to the attention of police! Often, many offences go unreported due to the complicity of victims. For example, organized prostitution, illicit distilling, illicit liquor, financial crimes, black-mail, forest poaching, sand looting, production and distribution of pornographic films, distribution of pornographic books, sale and production of narcotic substances, etc.

 Today, such crimes are tackled by suo motu action taken by police on the basis of secretly compiled information. With clear and systematic cooperation from the public, many such crimes can be very easily wiped out fro our communities .

 Actually, police stations should not be seen as symbols of a foreign power or an alien form of Government, imposed on the local community. They are the visual personification of the guarantee by a government of the people to individuals and local communities that under the democratic legal system, the life, property and dignity of citizens will be made secure, and that the rule of law will be carried out with a steady hand. They are the centres of hope for citizens who aspire for security.

 Security is the birthright of the people. A police station is a centre that delivers this right of security to the people. Police stations must be transformed into centres of justice where citizens may enter with confidence to demand that their rights of citizenship be secured. For this a policing system that interacts directly with the people must be created. This is what is intended by Community Policing.