Open house: What should be done to strengthen police-public relationship, improve policing?

Hold regular meetings between cops, locals

In a significant move aimed at bridging the gap between the police and the public as part of the ‘Safe neighbourhood campaign’, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav has started the ‘public meeting’ initiative. He has directed the high rank police officials to interact with the common people and the cops on regular basis to address the pressing security concerns and listen to the grievances, fostering a spirit of collaboration and trust. Some critical issues include the shortage of police personnel, lack of outreach by SHOs, tenant verification, traffic congestion, heavy vehicles plying in city limits, domestic violence, drug trafficking, vendor encroachments, etc. The police officials should address the genuine concerns of resident welfare associations (RWAs), demonstrating the commitment of the Punjab Police towards community-centric policing. Additional forces should be deployed at crime hotspots, snatching points and drug sale hotspots. The traffic flow should be streamlined and a crackdown be launched against overspeeding and drunk driving. Control rooms should be set up at district and sub-division levels for real-time monitoring and crime prevention. The police should ensure proper tenant verification and conduct anti-encroachment drives jointly with the local bodies. For better transparency, the police should be equipped with body-worn cameras. The women who are the victims of domestic violence should be provided essential psycho-social-legal aid to empower them and enable them to lead violent-free lives. Advanced weapons training should be imparted to the police officials to curb violent crimes. Strict measures are required against immigration and cyber frauds.

RS Sembhi

Committed to ensuring active policing: DGP

For past few weeks, I have been actively visiting police stations, interacting with the force, and holding public meetings to boost their morale and strengthen the bond between the police and community. We are committed to ensuring active policing to the people of the state.

Gaurav Yadav, DGP, Punjab

Awareness drives on crime prevention must

To strengthen the police-public relationship and enhance public safety in Punjab, several initiatives can be implemented. First, regular community-policing programmes should be established, allowing officers to engage with residents in informal settings. This fosters trust and open communication. Second, the police can organise workshops and awareness campaigns on safety, crime prevention and legal rights. Educating the public empowers citizens and helps them feel more secure. Third, increasing transparency through regular community meetings and feedback mechanisms will enable residents to voice concerns and suggestions, promoting accountability. Additionally, improving police training on cultural sensitivity and conflict resolution can help officers navigate community interactions more effectively. Utilising technology such as mobile apps for reporting issues can enhance responsiveness. Finally, creating partnerships with local organisations and community leaders can facilitate collaborative efforts in addressing crime and safety concerns. By prioritising community engagement and transparent practices, the police can foster a safer environment and build stronger, more trusting relationships with the public.

Parmeet

Engage with people on local issues

In order to ensure that the police-public relationship is strengthened and public safety enhanced in the city, community policing and regular outreach programmes should be prioritised. Community policing fosters collaboration between law enforcement and community members, encouraging citizens to actively participate in maintaining safety. Police officers should engage with local residents through regular neighbourhood meetings and social events, allowing for open dialogue about safety concerns and building trust. This approach not only humanises the police force but also empowers the community to take ownership of their environment. In addition, implementing educational outreach programmes in schools and community centres can significantly improve understanding and cooperation. Workshops focused on crime prevention, self-defence and the role of the police can demystify law enforcement practices and foster a sense of partnership. By actively involving youth and community members, these programmes can break down barriers and reduce misconceptions about the police. This dual approach of community engagement and education can create a safer, more cohesive environment, ultimately leading to a stronger bond between the police and the public, which is essential for effective crime prevention and enhanced security in Ludhiana.

Tamanpreet Kaur Khangura

Police must evoke trust, not fear

The relationship between the police and the public must be better and it must grow as it is highly required in a free country like India. The general public is afraid of the police and hesitates to approach it for any of assistance in their general need. A common man hesitates to approach the police in the police station or its bosses for any grievances. This trend needs be changed. The first action required in this is that every police station in an area must have a fixed mobile number, which should be duly publicised for the information of locals so that the people can inform officials about the issues. The policemen on duty at the police station or the bosses must be more receptive to the public visiting them with their problems. All efforts must be made to make the public understand that the department of police is there to help them. The public need must also realise that the people serving the police are human beings and that the relationship with them is to be made more congenial. Another step that police must take is that police is put on night duty to survey the areas for its safety and this will infuse confidence among the masses that the officials are there to help them. This will directly and indirectly improve the relationship with the police. All needed efforts must be made to develop the relationship between the police and public better and better and grow.

Gautam Dev

Easy approachability integral

Strengthening police public relationships and enhancing police safety is of utmost important to maintain peace. The police should partner with local organisations, schools and businesses to address community problems. Feedback is also very important to maintain the relationship with honesty. Establishing feedback mechanism and concerns regarding police practices ensures that the community’s voice is heard and considered. Easy approachability is also very important. The police presence in neighbourhoods should be ensured, encouraging officers to engage positively with the residents. Implementing the strategies can help build trust and improve safety and create a better relationship of police and public.

Japleen Kaur

Police’s efforts must be recognised

The steps taken by Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav to ensure pro-people policing in order to infuse confidence among people and fear among miscreants is highly commendable. The police are entrusted with the duty of maintaining the peace and harmony in society. I feel police officers on operational duties should be given a minimum two-year tenure. The law and order and investigation-related functions of the police should be separated. A police establishment board should be set up to decide transfers, promotions, postings. Officers who feel valued and appreciated are more likely to stay committed to their jobs. Departments can use various recognition methods such as awards, promotions and public praise. Additionally, offering incentives such as bonuses or extra time off can motivate officers to perform well. The easiest thing to have some reduction in corruption would be automated appointments of the police officers to various locations, be it in the city, ‘kotwali’, ‘thana’ or ‘chowki’.

Sukhdev Sharma

Collaborative efforts, innovative solutions

The relations between police and the general public are important for effective functioning of law within the administrative framework as well as community safety. Trust, transparency, and collaboration are essential in fostering a positive relationship that benefits both police force and citizens. Improving this relationship can lead to enhanced public safety and a more secure environment for everyone. Recently, in order to instill police confidence in the people of the state, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav paid surprise visits to check the presence of police personnel late at night and interacted with residents. These interactions can allow citizens to voice their concerns, ask questions and gain a better understanding of the police operations. This can also help demystify law enforcement procedures and humanise police force, fostering mutual respect. Collaborative problem-solving initiatives, in which police and community members work together to address specific local issues, can help to strengthen relationships. These collaborations can result in innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of each community, instilling a sense of shared responsibility for public safety. Finally, promoting community policing strategies such as assigning police force to specific neighbourhoods can help to strengthen ties and increase visibility. Furthermore, the police should be transparent and accountable in all engagements.

Novin christopher

Assign locals tasks

To restore peace in the state, there is a dire need to ensure the public participation with the law and order and enforcement agencies such as police. The coordination between the public and the police is the need of the hour, particularly in Ludhiana and cities alike. It can be done by planning and implementing necessary policies. The local administration must appoint commoners on voluntary basis, the ones who are interested to help the police. They must be assigned duties with the police in the civil dress in order to maintain the law and order in the areas. There must be meetings with the residents of different areas falling under different zones of the municipal corporation or council. The police, along with the public, must keep a vigil and patrol in their respective areas, especially at night. Various nakas must be fixed to check the late-night movements of people. Selected persons from the areas must have meetings with the resident of that area once a month and familiarise them with various ways to avoid burglary and cheating by miscreants. The person reporting the maximum number of cases and safeguarding the interest of the residents must be awarded publicly by the state authorities or the government.

DR Mohammed Salim Farooqi