The Overview in October, 2006.

In the backdrop of the October 9 nuclear test by North Korea, one feels unsure how the world security scenario will unveil in times to come. The fifth anniversary of 9/11 passed off amidst tension all around. Newer areas of attention by terrorists include Africa, described as the “haven” for them, Germany and France, with the UK being judged to be at the top of the terrorists’ target list. Security experts also apprehend another serious blow to the USA any time despite all measures taken. The encouraging development was the adoption (September 8) of a global counter-terrorism strategy by the UN, spelling out a “Plan of Action”, a first-time venture at the highest international level. The peace processes in Nepal and Srilanka are, however, yet to take off. In the midst of all these Pakistan and the Taliban signed a controversial agreement of the nature of what can be described as “live and let live” policy. On the other side, the Al Qaeda leadership has called upon nuclear scientists to join their ranks.

While terrorism in J&K and left extremist violence in other parts of India continued unabated, with the seizure of huge cache of rocket and shoulder-launchers in Andhra Pradesh making a landmark case, the ULFA in the Northeastern State of Assam has the temerity to issue ‘tax notice’ to Indians.

The private security industry in India made further marks. Kunwar Vikram Singh and Pawanjit Ahluwalia continued to bring laurels for the country. But the icing on the cake was the Union Home Minister calling upon governmental bodies to make use of private security agencies in security duties including in tasks like tackling terrorism. This should prove a great morale booster for the industry.

Police reforms in India have been a jigsaw puzzle for many years. Now the landmark judgement of the highest court of the land has paved the way for this exercise if all concerned are willing to take up this challenge. One could in this connection read with interest the attached editorial reproduced from the Times of India of September 26, 2006: ‘Don’t Cop Out – Police reforms must for good governance”.

The readers may not perhaps like to miss the stories on what GPS telephones can do for them, the legal history made in the UK on the issue of double jeopardy, the Centre for Brain Forensics being set up at Bangalore, two bullets per person on earth, sex strike against crime in Columbia, the STR techniques in tackling heart attacks and of course, the pithy event described as the “Price of Efforts” and the sweet father and child relation – all in the General File of the Newsletter.

D. C. Nath, IPS (Retd.)
Former Special Director, IB (MHA), Govt. of India,
Executive President & CEO,
International Institute of Security and Safety Management,
New Delhi, India.

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Don’t Cop Out – Police reforms must for good governance

The Supreme Court’s call for substantial reforms in the police force has not come a day too late. The deadline set by the apex court may appear ambitious, but the directive should push central and state governments to set in motion changes that had been suggested by the First National Police Commission in the 1970s and various committees subsequently. The Police Act of 1861 is in letter and spirit a legal instrument meant to facilitate and legitimize oppression by a colonial power. It needs drastic revision. That the Act has remained unchanged even decades after India became independent points to the limitations of Indian democracy. Legislators have refused to revamp the Act because it enables them to use the police as an oppressive instrument to control and contain legitimate forms of dissent. A pliant police force is a useful ally for corrupt lawmakers and politicians. Besides asking for an overhaul of the police force, the apex court has also given concrete suggestions to insulate officers from overt political interference. Fixed tenures of DGPs, police establishment boards and state security commissions might allow the force to have more institutional autonomy. Similarly, the proposal for police complaint authorities at the district level to investigate charges against individual policemen could help check corruption within the force. However, it is naïve to expect that such checks and balances alone will change the conduct of the police force. Equally important, if not more, are shortages of finance and manpower in the force and recruitment policies. India has one of the lowest people-to-people ratios which hampers policing. The Supreme Court’s suggestion to separate the functions of law and order and investigations is possible only if this ratio improves. Recruitment should address the lopsided representation of minorities, Dalits and tribals. The ordinary citizen sees the police as an unfriendly, brutal presence. The state has also encouraged this perception by design and default. This intimidatory image helps the corrupt cop to scot-free. Low salaries and heavy workload encourage many lower level personnel to compromise professional integrity and competence. These issues should not be glossed over when governments set out to reform the police force. The law is essentially an abstract entity, which gains a concrete identity in the hands of people who deploy it. The success of a revamped Police Act will depend on the social and political preferences of society. Judicial fiats by themselves can’t ensure it.

Times of India – September 26, 2006.

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