The Indian police

The Indian police, critical for the healthy functioning of a democracy, has been long neglected. Criticism of the police force is commonplace. However, do we acknowledge just how vital a role the police play in our daily lives? While we celebrate festivals, they are out manning the streets. While we enjoy cricket matches, they are guarding the stadium. They are out there, engaged in long, gruelling bandobasts, each time there is the smallest security threat. Moreover, constables, who make up a majority of the force, work long hours for poor pay and have marginal or no growth prospects.

Down the decades, attempts to introduce reform, much needed to protect the police from political interference and enhance efficiency, have been thwarted or ignored by state governments.

Satyamev Jayate highlights some of the critical issues faced by the police machinery today. We, as a nation, need to get rid of a ruler's police force and demand a people's police force, and this can only be possible with due reform.

Victims of a 'system'

Former Central Information Commissioner, Shailesh Gandhi, talks about how the police in India follow an unwritten policy to not register crimes

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Reforms recommended: Milestones

India's police was set up in the mid-1800s by the British government. With the country's transition to democracy, reforming the police became a necessity. A chronology of changes suggested down the years.

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Minority report

We looked at the ratio of male to female police officers in India for the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. In each case, we found that the number of women in the police force is far behind the number of men.

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Police shortfall in India

The actual number of the civil policemen, who safeguard our cities, towns and villages, is much lower than the number of policemen sanctioned. This shortfall in police personnel has only been increasing over the years.

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Reform the constabulary

In India, constables comprise the majority of the police force. They work for long, undefined hours and in high-stress environments. Their working conditions must be improved if we are to achieve true police reforms

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Hand in hand

Community policing initiatives from across the country have proved that policing need not be a top-down process, and the public can be a partner in ensuring safety and preventing crime

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