New and improved: IGP highlight need for people-friendly police force

Participants told about initiatives to improve public service delivery

PESHAWAR: Reform initiatives taken by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police to rid the system of the ‘thana culture’ and improve public service delivery were brought to the fore at a meeting of subdivisional police officers from Peshawar and Mardan.

The moot was chaired by IGP Nasir Khan Durrani.

At the meeting, Establishment AIG Najeebur Rehman and IT Director Naveed Gul gave a presentation on reform initiatives and methods of improving public service delivery.

Friends, not masters

While addressing the police officers, the IGP emphasised the need to change attitudes when it comes to public dealing. He directed participants about the mannerisms and etiquette of police officers of a civilised nation.

He said demeanour of a police officer must be impeccable and friendly.

“We are the servants of the people and not their masters,” Durrani said. “Public perception and satisfaction with the police is the only genuine yardstick and objective measure of its performance.”

Durrani insisted the force must endeavour to protect and maintain the image of the K-P police and that can only be achieved by winning the hearts and minds of the people.

“Every effort must be made to bridge the police-public trust deficit.”

Overhaul

The IGP said dispute resolution councils (DRC) had been established on the principle of restorative justice.

“This is playing a key role in addressing minor issues and root-causes of crime,” he said.

Durrani highlighted the efforts of the force to improve performance at K-P’s police stations. He said physical and human resources at police stations are in desperate need of overhaul.

“As far as the physical resources are concerned, the police had established model police stations and new reporting rooms to provide a conducive working environment for both the public and  police personnel,” he said.

He said the police have taken a number of initiatives to improve the capacity and proficiency of human resource. He said specialised schools have also been established. These include Police School of Investigation in Hayatabad, Police School of Intelligence in Abbottabad, Police School of Tactics in Peshawar, Police School of Public Disorder and Riot Management in Mardan, Police School of IT in Peshawar and Police School of Explosives, Nowshera.

These schools have been imparting training in various fields and are contributing towards improving the behavior of police.

In addition, the police also adopted various IT-oriented initiatives including digital FIRs, incorporation of CNIC and cellphone numbers of the accused and the complainant in such reports, a criminal record verification system (CRVS), identity verification system (IVS), vehicle verification system (VVS), geo-tagging of crime scenes and hotspot policing.

For this purpose, gadgets are being utilised by police personnel at check posts, while hotspot policing is being used for the prevention of crime.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2016.