Community Participation in Law Enforcement Systems – A Study on Opportunities and Mechanisms

Objectives:

• To increase participation of community in the law enforcement systems. Hence to identify mechanisms to ensure community participation.
• To build the capacity of the police to understand the needs of the community to maintain law & order, provide social & legal security to the citizens and bring peace & harmony in the society.

Geographical Spread:

• Assam, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
• Study covered 8 police stations.
• General category of individuals, organizations & associations contacted are: Educational Institutions, Journalists, People’s representatives, representatives of political parties & student unions, Member’s of women’s organizations, Chambers of Commerce, NGOs, Industrialists, Members of Bar Association & Judges, Transport Associations, Religious Institutions, Legal Aid Women’s cells, Medical Professionals, Human Rights Commission, Taxi & Auto Drivers’ Association & Police Officials

Key areas/components:

• The study extensively used the principles and approaches of participatory research.
• Varied categories of individuals, organizations & associations were consulted.
• Primarily the questions circled around three broad themes: Community’s perceptions, Constraints within which police operates and ideas for improvements.
• Senior police personnel as well as the change agents were also interviewed.
• After 4 – 5 days of research a one and a half day’s workshop was conducted in which views and suggestions of all the groups were consolidated & shared.

Key outputs:

• People’s perceptions of the police & Police perceptions of the people
• Perception of police about themselves & Common concerns
• Expectations of community from the police & vice-versa
• Present experiences of community – Police interface & Suggested mechanisms for improved relationships.
• Proposed ideas about assuring the transparency and accountability of police to the community.
• The study envisaged that the formation of CLG (Community Liaison Group which the group suggested to respondents) may not be the only mechanism to improve relationship between community & police.
• The task ahead would be to identify key elements in relation to the policies, rules and standing orders which would be formulated on the basis of the recommendations of this study

Year/Period: