POLICE-PUBLIC RELATIONS

• NCJ Number: 52577
• Author(s): E L STRACEY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Indian Soc of Criminology
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: India
• Note: KUMARAPPA-RECKLESS ENDOWMENT LECTURE DELIVERED AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, MADRAS, INDIA, ON MARCH 25, 1977

Annotation

EFFORTS TO IMPROVE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN INDIA THROUGH TRAINING AND THROUGH ENHANCING THE POLICE ROLE IN MEDIATING CITIZEN DISPUTES ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IT IS FIRST NOTED THAT INDIA NO LONGER CAN ATTRIBUTE ITS POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROBLEMS TO THE VESTIGES OF BRITISH RULE, AND THAT IMPROVING COMMUNITY RELATIONS INVOLVES MORE THAN ATTEMPTS TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC IMAGE OF POLICE. A BASIC CAUSE OF PROBLEMS IN POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN INDIA IS FOUND IN THE STATUS-RIDDEN STRUCTURE OF INDIAN SOCIETY AND OF THE STATE POLICE FORCE. REACTING TO THE THE SUPERIOR ATTITUDE TAKEN TOWARD THEM BY HIGHER-LEVEL OFFICIALS, STATION-LEVEL AND CONSTABULAR LEVEL POLICE TEND TO ADOPT A SIMILAR ATTITUDE TOWARD LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THE POLICE FORCE'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION THROUGH BETTER RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS, TRAINING IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR, AND ORGANIZATINAL MANAGEMENT ARE NOTED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO A TRAINING PROGRAM IN WHICH CONSTABLES, PARTICIPATING IN A 6-DAY COURSE DESIGNED TO EXPOSE THEM TO NEW TECHNIQUES AND PERSPECTIVES, CONDUCT SURVEYS OF CITIZENS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE CONSTABLES STUDY THE CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON THE GOOD AND BAD ASPECTS OF THE POLICE FORCE AND ON WAYS OF IMPROVING THE FORCE. AMONG SUGGESTIONS OFFERED BY THE PUBLIC HAVE BEEN STRICTER ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW (ESPECIALLY AGAINST NUISANCE AND BEGGARY), GREATER USE OF WARNING FOR PETTY OFFENSES, POLICE PROVISION OF ADVICE AND COUNSELING IN THE SETTLEMENT OF PERSONAL DISPUTES, AND ASSIGNMENT OF MORE PATROL CONSTABLES. THE POLICE ALSO HAVE INTRODUCED A PROGRAM IN WHICH, RATHER THAN REFERRING PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE POLICE WITH MINOR DISPUTES TO A COURT, A SPECIALLY TRAINED OFFICER COUNSELS THE PARTIES TO THE DISPUTE AND HELPS THEM REACH AN AGREEMENT. IT IS NOTED THAT PROGRAMS WHICH EXTEND THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE POLICE WITH THE PUBLIC BEYOND LEGALISTIC BOUNDARIES ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO ACHIEVING BETTER PUBLIC RELATIONS, WHICH, IN THE LAST ANALYSIS, IS SYNONYMOUS WITH BETTER POLICE SERVICE. (LKM)