Olive green is the new black

It is a bit hard to understand all the fuss made about Punjab police’s recent switchover to a new uniform. Opinion has been clearly divided between those who support the old uniform and those who want a softer image for the police force through a new outfit. Well, the debate isn’t exactly over.

What is becoming increasingly clear in new and old debate outlets that a number of citizens are demanding “inner change” instead of a mere change in outer looks.  No doubt, the quest for police reforms is more than valid but we need to realise that uniform change is one of many steps towards the goal of reforms.  This will definitely change public perception of police as the typical police image will gradually vanish and longstanding struggle for a soft image will be supplemented by adopting a relatively soft color. It is expected that the new uniform will inject new valor and spirit into the force to valiantly fight against terrorists, criminals and anti-social elements.

Implementation of the new uniform’s proposal, which was under consideration for a while, finally began from Lahore. The traditional black and khaki uniform of Punjab police has been replaced with a dark olive green uniform. More than 30,000 Lahore police officials have received the uniforms in the first phase of distribution what began on March 27. Since April 3rd, all Lahore police officers and officials have started to wear new cargo trousers with their new shirts open in the front with concealed buttons. By November 2017 most members of the 200,000-strong Punjab force will be fitted out thus.

Apparently the new uniform has been put through a rigorous process of approval and vetting by field commanders and professionals, according to the outgoing inspector general of police, Mushtaq Sukhera

Public opinion, however, is not fully aligned with the authorities. Going through the comments of social media users about the uniform change, other than trolling, on can see that people are not at all satisfied. They want policemen to change their behaviour and conduct first. They also want to purge corruption from the force.

A majority of social media users and analysts serving traditional media also believe that the police need to rid itself of political influence. Civil society members are convinced that since black is a colour of terror and oppression switching over to olive green is a positive step. Olive green also suits the country’s sultry weather conditions as the temperature rises up to 50 degrees Celsius in the summer. Black absorbs more heat while green reduces eye strain and is restful in nature. Cloth quality and design are very comfortable in our dusty, warm environment.

For their part, police officials say it will take some time for the public to realise that this is the same police. People who kept away from crime due to presence of police in society may get disturbed until the new uniform fully integrates with the proposed reforms.

The good news is that some other impactful reforms have already been started to help citizens like transition in investigation approach from traditional torture culture to scientific and technical methods with induction of highly educated sub-inspectors specialised in investigation along with the use of technology. Information technology initiatives implemented in recent years like Digitisation of FIRs, Front Desks, Android Apps Hotel Eye and Local Eye, IGP’s Police Complaint Centre (8787), Criminal Record Management and Identification (CRMI) and more than 20 other projects are definitely going to bring a major change in policing in Punjab.

Public expectations are high and one hopes that the new command, currently in hands of Captain (retd) Usman Khatak, will further continue efforts to bring much-desired reforms in Punjab police.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2017.

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