HEC, NPB for academia’s role in police reforms
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan and the National Police Bureau (NPB) have agreed to enhance cooperation between the country’s higher education institutions and police organisations to encourage the academia to play a proactive role in guiding reforms through relevant research.
In this connection, a Letter of Intent (LoI) has been signed by Dr Shaista Sohail, the HEC executive director, and Dr Ejaz Hussain, the NPB director general, Ministry of Interior, Islamabad.
Police reforms and involvement of academia for informed policy decisions has emerged as a top priority in the government’s commitment for strengthening police institutions, said a spokesperson on Tuesday.
“Through this LoI, the HEC and the NPB intend to facilitate collaboration in research projects between researchers and the law enforcement agencies associated with NPB to harness the research potential of academic institutions as well as solve real-world problems through carefully designed and properly implemented research activities.”
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Under this collaboration, among other things, universities will be encouraged to approach the NPB for joint workshops, seminars, focused group discussions, competitions, and involvement of student volunteers for community work, according to a statement.
“The HEC will incorporate the contents related to public safety, frequently applied police laws, criminal procedure and fundamental constitutional rights in one of the mandatory general education courses that the HEC is developing for the undergraduate students.”
Similarly, the NPB would offer unpaid internships to students, whenever and wherever possible, said the spokesperson.
“It will also provide access to crime data regarding research to MPhil and PhD scholars, subject to necessary protections with respect to privacy and confidentiality.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2021.