EXPRESS DIALOGUES |’Fear of police fading.. force used as tool by political masters’ says former Karnataka DGP ST Ramesh

To what extent does technology influence crimes committed by juveniles in today’s society?

Technology has a minimal role, it is a human element and has many underlying issues. It needs a fine balance. Teenagers behave peculiarly. A juvenile crime needs to be dealt with differently.

Crime keeps increasing, and whenever that happens, the police and government are blamed. But prevention of crime is a responsibility that remains with society too. What should society do?

Due diligence by citizens can help prevent crime. Society’s role is to take normal responsible precautions. To prevent conventional crimes like theft, people should keep their houses locked. If there is a domestic help, keep your valuables safe. Cybercrimes can be prevented if citizens exercise caution.

Lack of basic infrastructure like footpaths makes people vulnerable to crimes like chain-snatching…

We need to give pedestrians their space. Roads should be designed keeping pedestrians in mind.

What needs to be done to bring in friendly police stations?

The term people-friendly police is a contradiction. Enforcing the law is often an unpleasant job. For instance, people hate it when they are issued a challan for not wearing a helmet. Law enforcement is a necessary evil, and while police can be friendly to an extent, enforcement of laws is rarely met with universal approval. However, there are areas where police can establish rapport with citizens, which is necessary to improve their image. There should be a balance between enforcing the law and maintaining a cordial relationship with the community. A good relationship with citizens can facilitate better policing.

Has the decline in foot patrolling resulted in a gap between police and community?

Effective policing relies on foot patrolling. While police may have many vehicles, the fundamental problem is a lack of resources. The police-population ratio, according to UN standards, is 250 police officers per lakh of population. Developed countries have even more police per capita. In Karnataka, there are only 158.3 police officers per lakh of population. No one is addressing this shortage. Policing is a manpower-intensive job.

How can we attract people to join the police force?

In a society where unemployment is high, police jobs are often seen as powerful positions. The prospect of stable employment motivates many to join the force; for every 100 openings, there are about 10,000 applications. A police job offers a fixed salary, job security and benefits, which drives people to apply.