By Bhagwan Shankar, IAS (Retd.)
Introduction
Every modern Nation has a primary role to safeguard the life and liberty of its citizens. To ensure this objective, the institution of law enforcement agencies where police plays a major role has been created. However, depending on the complexity of the society which includes population, composition of the population, development status including adoption of technology, performance of public and private institutions etc., there have been different patterns of partnership of citizens and police in the realm of internal security in various countries of the world. This partnership has different contours ranging from community policing to private security industry. On one hand, we find a very active role of community policing in USA, Singapore, Japan and so many other countries, this role is too low in countries like Russia, Australia, and Germany. Obviously, the population of a country and resources available with the governments for police administration is a major factor. In United Kindom, Sir Robert Peel, a two time Prime Minister known as father of Community Policing introduced the concept of community policing in the 19th Century. Further, John Angel, a famous artist in England coined the word ‘democratic policing’ to describe community policing. USA started community policing from 1960s which, inter alia, included neighborhood watch programme having provision of a meeting hall attached to every police station to have regular consultation with the neighbourhood community. The police patrols are also on walks or cycles so as to mingle with the community better and enlist their support.
Even today, the Police population ratio is 152 as against the desired norm of 222 (UN norms) per one lakh population
Indian Perspective
In India also, there has been a long history of people participation in all spheres of public life including Policing. India is also known as the mother of democracy where the people participation in terms of community policing was there during the ancient period, even during the Ashoka period. During the medieval period, the village chiefs known as Mukkadan or Sarpanch used to work as police officers. Unfortunately, during the British period, the community policing lost its significance as Lord Cornawalis introduced the Zamindari and Daroga (in charge of a police station) system as part of the centralised control of the British exploitative regime. After the Independence of the country, it has been a general perception of the common people that the mere police administration, as an arm of the State, is not good enough where control on crime, law & order situation, administration of justice remains largely unsatisfactory.
Even today, the Police population ratio is 152 as against the desired norm of 222 (UN norms) per one lakh population. As a consequence, some initiatives have been taken in different parts of the county, like:
- Kerala Janmaithri Suraksha Project 2008.
- Village Resistance Group to deal with dacoits in West Bengal.
- Gram Raksha Dal in Gujrat and Maharastra and recent Citizen Setu Project by the Gujarat police.
- Karnataka Village Defence Parties Act 1964.
- Friends of Police (FoP) movement, Ramnand district, Tamilnadu.
- Community Liaison Groups, Uttrakhand.
- Gram/ Nagar Raksha Samiti, Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
- Parivar Paramarsh Kendra Raigarh,Madhya Pradesh.
- Police Mitra, Delhi Police.
Private Security Agencies and its Significance in Nation Building
With the passage of time, there has been participation of private security agencies in the realm of the internal security of various countries and it has taken a very big shape today. In USA and many other advance countries they outnumber the public police. Some countries like Japan and UK have given them some of the police powers also.
In India also, the private security industry is big, and poised to play a very important role alongside police in the domain of internal security of the country. Now, they are visible to the common man also – at places like residential colonies, bank ATM’s, schools and colleges, hospitals, hotels, ports, airports, industrial establishments, malls, private businesses, and as private security officers (PSO) in corporates etc.
The National Citizens Security Culture
Now, there is new dawn coming up on the horizons of the private security landscape. The 10 million strong workforce with the private security industry is waiting in wings to work as agents of National Citizens Security Culture, a noble project being unfolded by CAPSI (Central Association of Pvt security Industry) in the near future. The project under monitoring from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would be the largest ever community policing initiative with sustainability in mind.
“Every modern Nation has a primary role to safeguard the life and liberty of its citizens. To ensure this objective, the institution of law enforcement agencies where police plays a major role has been created. However, depending on the complexity of the society which includes population, composition of the population, development status including adoption of technology, performance of public and private institutions etc., there have been different patterns of partnership of citizens and police in the realm of internal security in various countries of the world”
The National Citizens Security Culture project would mean very big and comprehensive. It is a nation-wide initiative which would be felt through the actions of multiple stakeholders simultaneously under the monitoring from the national capital Delhi in association with the state chapters of CAPSI. The citizens from all walks of life would take ownership and responsibility for the cause. It would be for the cause of national security covering all dimensions of security of a society and the country. It is meant to ensure that security will become the part of life of people that will bring about changes in attitudes and behavior of people on a sustainable basis so as to let it become the culture of the citizens.
The project envisages involvement of the various stakeholders viz., educational institutions, hospitals, hotel owners, mall owners, RWAs, village panchayats, civil administration (in particular police), and support from the Central ministries viz., Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Human Resourse Development (MHRD), Ministry of Urban Development & Housing (MOUD), Ministry of Rural Development (MRDD), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B ) etc., to ensure successful launch of this project which essentially is an altruistic measure by the private security industry association. In fact, this initiative should qualify for CSR (corporate social responsibility) contribution from the corporate world.
“In India during the medieval period, the village chiefs known as Mukkadan or Sarpanch used to work as police officers. Unfortunately, during the British period, the community policing lost its significance as Lord Cornawalis introduced the Zamindari and Daroga (in charge of a police station) system as part of the centralised control of the British exploitative regime. After the Independence of the country, it has been a general perception of the common people that the mere police administration, as an arm of the State, is not good enough where control on crime, law & order situation, administration of justice remains largely unsatisfactory”
RRU & its Role
The RRU (Rastriya Raksha University) under the aegis of MHA is going to play a pivotal role in the preparation of the training material (audio-visual, text etc.) in association with CAPSI. There would be training sessions (both off line and online) for the security guards.
Similarly, Nehru Yuva Kendras spread all over the country, Bharat Scouts and guides, NCC, also as other stakeholders like industrial and business establishments would be reached out to be the part of this drive. Use of most effective means of technology for quickest dissemination of the ideas and modalities of this project in a cost effective manner would be a very important factor.
The beginning in this direction has taken place with a Round Table Conference that took place on 15th March 2024 at the Constitution Club, New Delhi where brainstorming happened with participation of top experienced personnel from defence forces, police forces, administrators, academicians, RRU, think tanks, etc. with a very wide media coverage .There are going to be more interactions like this in different parts of the country in future.
Conclusion
This project aims at bringing about better efficiency in the state apparatus (in particular, police) for the internal security of the country. It is expected that the timely detection/ reporting of crime or any untoward development in public life will lead to effective handling of law & order situation, crime prevention and investigation, disaster mitigation and better community bonding resulting in an overall safe and conducive eco system for various development initiatives to flourish. This would also result in better image building of the police as also work towards reducing the case load in courts on account of prevention of institution of cases due to strong social bonding which is inherent in this project. The spin off effects could be awareness of generation with regard to hygiene aspects in the society, as also environmental preservation and many more things in future which may be on-boarded using the same methodology. A secure Bharat would be the foundation of a developed Bharat.
Bhagwan Shankar, IAS (Retd.)
Former Addl. Chief Secretary
Govt. of Sikkim
Distinguished Fellow
Delhi School of Public Policy & Governance
Advisor
Central Association of Pvt. Security Industry (CAPSI)
* Views expressed in the article are solely of the Author
