Open House: What steps should the police department take to prevent abuse of power by cops?
There have always been black sheep among the police who want to make easy money by defrauding innocent people. Controlling them is extremely difficult, albeit not impossible. The confiscated drugs should be kept safely out of the reach of police officers so that they cannot plant them in the cars or homes of the NRIs. Furthermore, dual control should always be present when investigating the culprits. Rotating police officers’ duties can also help reduce this type of crime. They choose aged NRIs as their targets because they are soft targets. In future, the police should listen to the grievances of such NRIs sympathetically.
NPS Sohal, Chandigarh
Separate body must probe graft cases
NRIs being subjected to extortion by a woman with the assistance of a police officer is a sign of severe social malaise. Targeting innocent people to make quick money reflects poorly on the moral strength of those in positions of power. Corruption by police officers should be investigated by an equally strong third party entity, with direct support from the courts, so that such investigations are not influenced by the police.
Deepak Taak, Panchkula
Enforce penalties for misconduct
The Police Department should establish strong internal vigilance mechanisms. Conduct regular ethics and accountability training. Introduce body cameras and dashboard cameras to improve transparency. Create an independent complaint redressal system. Encourage whistleblowing and reward honesty. Enforce severe penalties for misconduct and corruption. These measures can help to reduce abuse of power and restore public trust in the police force.
Gaganpreet Singh, Mohali
Install body cameras for accountability
To prevent abuse of power, the Police Department should install body cameras for accountability, set up a whistle-blower protection system, conduct regular ethics training and impose strict penalties for misconduct. Furthermore, an independent oversight committee should be established to investigate complaints, ensuring transparency and fairness throughout all proceedings.
Amanjot Kaur, Mohali
Mechanism needed to verify such cases
Extortions committed by police officers by planting drugs on victims have brought shame on the force. This method has been in use for quite some time. Police officers have been arrested in Chandigarh and Punjab for extorting money from victims by planting drugs. These activities cannot take place without the knowledge and involvement of their superiors, as well as the recruitment of bad elements into the force. People will never trust the police when there are such corrupt officers on the force. People are afraid to approach the police when they need help because of such incidents. To protect innocent people from police extortion, a system for verifying similar cases in the future is required.
Wg Cdr JS Minhas (retd), Mohali
Take strict action against errant cops
The recent arrest of a constable and two women serves as a wake-up call for the police regarding extorting money from NRIs. Police are responsible for providing safety and security to the general public, particularly NRIs. This brings a bad name to the entire police force. The need of the hour is to take strict action against the police officer to serve as a deterrent to others. At the same time, social welfare and better pay must be considered for police officers so that they can perform their duties honestly and without bias.
Col TPS Bedi, Mohali
Legal protection for whistleblowers
There should be comprehensive policies in place regarding acceptable behaviour and the consequences of misconduct, as well as strict disciplinary action against the accused. Cops should wear body cameras to keep an objective record of their daily interactions. Whistle-blower policies should be widely publicised in order to detect any misconduct while providing whistle-blowers with adequate legal protection. However, cops’ mental health needs as a result of work-related stresses must also be addressed.
Harinder Kaur Bhalla
Technological intervention must
The nub of lower-level cops abusing their power is the unbridled nuisance value they inherited from the colonial era, when they acted as law unto themselves. This makes the average person fear police more than criminals. A significant shift in police mindset becomes unavoidable. Posts previously reserved only for direct IPS officers, such as district chief, should never be occupied by state cadre promotees who political masters believe are more pliable. The constable position should be abolished, and their responsibilities should be transferred to remote technological mechanisms. In the event that saviours and custodians become partners or perpetrators in crime, the punishments for all crimes must be increased manifold following summary trials.
Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
Uproot corruption, restore integrity
Subordinates require focused supervision, which is missing here. Before placing a cop in a responsible public service position, he or she should receive comprehensive feedback. Without such deterrent measures in place, the much-needed goal of curbing corruption will be difficult to achieve. The administration and police must win the trust of law-abiding residents by implementing all necessary measures to uproot this evil and restore integrity. The democratic setup requires that complaints against public servants be taken seriously, with an open mind, and with the goal of bringing about effective reforms.
Vijay Shukla, Chandigarh
Need to build positive public perception
Criminals represent the dark side of our society. We usually hear about cases of looting and extortion, but it truly hurts when a law enforcement officer becomes an offender, abusing his position. It is important to note here that not all five fingers are the same, but such individuals can distort the image of others in the department. As a result, the department should show no sympathy or laxity in dealing with these wrongdoers and should act strictly in accordance with the law to set an example for others. In a nutshell, establishing a positive public perception of law enforcement is critical.
Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali
Bolster internal, external oversight
To prevent abuse of power, government departments should strengthen internal and external oversight, provide rigorous ethics training, protect whistle-blowers, use body cameras, and encourage community involvement. Clear guidelines, strict penalties and regular performance reviews are essential for ensuring accountability.
Prithvee Vakhmi
Corrupt officers should not be spared
Extortion by cops is a serious issue. The Chandigarh police force should ensure its cops do not engage in such behaviour as it reflects poorly on the force. Furthermore, the police should file FIRs against the perpetrators and sentence them to the maximum number of years. Recently, a constable and a woman arrested an NRI falsely. Such cops should not be spared; they should face extraordinary punishment.
MR Bhateja, Naya Gaon
Behavioural change need of the hour
One drastic transformational change required in the Tricity’s policing is a behavioural change among police officers at all levels. At the moment, the situation is such that the average resident avoids confronting a cop on duty for fear of unnecessary questioning and rude behaviour. Residents avoid sharing any information related to accidents, snatchings or robberies because they know they will be harassed by the police. In investigations, they may be called to police stations several times, wasting their valuable time. Police officers require extensive behavioural training in order to maintain courtesies and soft behaviour when dealing with the public, as well as to encourage public participation in crime reduction in the Tricity through information sharing without fear of harassment or undue complications. Police should keep informant information private and conduct their own investigation without the involvement of individuals who shared basic information about the incident.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Speak out against unscrupulous cops
The masses should act intelligently. Loopholes in the police department’s working system enable them to abuse their position and intimidate the public into doing whatever they say. It is time for the general public to become aware of such traps, act intelligently, and speak out against such unscrupulous police officers. If a victim files a complaint, the police department should respond in a friendly and relaxed manner, rather than siding with the cops.
Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali
Instil esprit de corps in trainees
The police force is responsible for ensuring society’s safety and security, as well as maintaining law and order. It is highly condemnable that some members of the force engage in corruption, extortion and even drug trafficking. The reason for such unethical behaviour is a desire for easy money. As a result, it is incumbent on the police training centre to place a high value on instilling esprit de corps and pride among its trainees so as to avoid acts that bring shame and disgrace to the force. Periodic sainik sammelans should be held, emphasising discipline, pride in force and honesty. Those who bring honour to the cadre should be given career opportunities, while those who engage in unethical behaviour should face harsh consequences.
SS Arora, Mohali
Organise moral education sessions
The Police Department must be more vigilant towards its own officials, and if one is caught indulging in shameful acts, superior officers must administer exemplary punishment. All cadres must receive moral education in the form of drills to instil a sense of duty and honesty. They should be informed that the honest resident must not be harassed. Special cells in the Vigilance Department should be established to monitor suspect police personnel and apprehend them in a timely manner.
Bharat Bhushan Sharma
Employ tech, reduce manned posts
The Chandigarh police must not only establish an operational helpline for reporting corrupt or immoral police officials, but also bring about systemic change. The recruitment process should be just and fair. Corruption in the police can be addressed through digitisation and the reduction of manned police posts. The police can also set an example by taking strict action against those who break the law. Overall, only the use of cutting-edge technology and proper mechanisms can put an end to the Chandigarh police’s rampant illegal activities.
Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh
Subject officers to psychological tests
To spread the right message among the police, the immediate step should be to make an example out of this particular defaulter by dismissing him from service if convicted. Second, psychological tests similar to the SSB (for Army officers applying to the NDA, IMA and OTA) will separate the wheat from the chaff at the entry level. Third, conduct a 360-degree appraisal to prepare police personnel for the next rank. Formal and informal public feedback should account for a significant portion of police officers’ annual confidential reports (ACRs). This would serve as an effective reprimand and deterrent for police officers who are prone to acting erratically or recklessly while performing their duties. This will also result in the right man moving up the ladder.
Brig Advitya Madan, Chandigarh
Identify those prone to abuse of power
Addressing police misconduct and preventing abuse of power are critical to preserving public trust and safety. The police force should implement training programmes based on psychological research. For example, procedurally just policing can build public trust by emphasising fairness and transparency. Encourage officers to take action when they witness misconduct by their colleagues. Peer accountability can be an effective deterrent. Provide officers with the necessary skills to effectively handle crisis situations, such as de-escalation techniques and mental health awareness. Rigorous screening during recruitment can aid in identifying individuals who are prone to abuse of power and bias.
Sargunpreet Kaur, Mohali
Community outreach programmes needed
The police should adopt anonymous feedback mechanisms. Officers should undergo regular psychological evaluations. Community engagement and outreach programmes should be made mandatory. Ensure transparent policies for promotion and transfer. For disciplinary action, there should be a provision of independent review boards. Technology-enabled police activity monitoring is the way forward. Promoting a culture of integrity and service is all important.
Gurpreet Kaur, Mohali
QUESTION FOR NEXT WEEK
With Gulab Chand Kataria assuming the role of the new UT Administrator, what are your expectations for the city’s future and what key priorities should he focus on?
Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com
