One-year tenure: Police officers welcome IG’s ‘policy’ on transfer

Inspector General of Police announces ban on transfer of SHOs and IIs before they finish a year in their posting.

LAHORE: Punjab Police officers have welcomed Inspector General of Police (IGP) Javed Iqbal’s announcement of a ban on the transfer of station house officers (SHOs) and officials in charge of investigations (IIs) before they finish a year in their posting.

The officers said that allowing SHOs and IIs longer tenures would improve police performance, since it would allow them time to acquire knowledge of the areas they work in and build up a network of informants.

But other officers were sceptical that the IGP’s circular of January 15 could be successfully implemented in a culture of frequent police transfers, usually because of political pressure.

Most SHOs and IIs serving in Lahore have been in their posts for less than six months. During the tenure of the previous capital city police officer (CCPO), who retired last year, many SHOs and IIs were transferred within three months.

IG Iqbal, in the January 15 circular to all heads of police offices in the Punjab, instructed regional police officers (RPOs) to monitor all transfers of SHOs and IIs to ensure none are sent to new assignments prematurely.

The superintendent of police (SP) of a Lahore division, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Express Tribune that he believed it was a good move. “Once he has tenure security, a police official can establish his sources and make strategies keeping the ground realities of the specific area in view,” he said. “This homework helps the police curb crime and ensure peace in his area. When a police official, particularly in the field, has no job security how can he serve with dedication?”

A sub divisional police officer (SDPO) said he had been transferred thrice over the last year. He felt he had not been able to do justice to any of the three jobs. “It takes at least a month for an official to adjust to an area. Once he completes his homework he is transferred. This is why the police cannot deliver,” he said.

The IGP said in his circular that security of tenure was a prerequisite for efficient performance, as frequent transfers and postings on flimsy ground often led to adhocism and hampered the functioning of field units especially.

The circular added that premature transfers shall be made only on account of “misconduct, inefficiency and corruption”, in which case there would be an inquiry. The suspected officer would not be posted back before the completion of departmental proceedings and the appropriate decision by the competent authority.

An assistant superintendent of police feared that the high-ups would not be able to resist the pressure to transfer officers, and so we would start seeing many SHOs and IIs being charged with “misconduct, inefficiency and corruption”.

He said that according to Section 4(2) and 15 of the Police Order 2002, city police officers (CPOs), district police officers (DPOs), and heads of police divisions, sub-divisions and police stations were appointed for three-year terms. “So the law already exists but everyone ignores it. I don’t see how this simple circular can be more effective than the law,” he said.

The ASP said that according to Section 15(3) of the Police Order 2002, the approval of the provincial government was necessary for the transfer of any CPO or DPO under charges of misconduct or inefficiency before he completed his term of office. He said the transfer of SHOs and IIs only required a transfer order issued by the SSP concerned.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2011.