Murder, rape, robbery, gang war and underworld activities are so rampant in Sri Lanka that lives of innocent men and women, boys and girls are at stake. The police are helpless to arrest the wave of crimes due to political interference. There are officers and political charlatans who are not concerned about the lives of the people. Political patronage to the wrong doers and criminals is detrimental to the law enforcement agencies. The rise in crime is entirely due to the inefficiency of the Police Service.

There are several police divisions under a Deputy Inspector General of Police and the policing the area demarcated is in the hands of the police under the officers-in-charge. Every Police station knows the geography of their area and also the vulnerable spots where criminals carry on their nefarious activities. Every police Station has gathered statistics and information regarding the whereabouts of the shady characters and members of the underworld. In a police division, every policeman knows where drugs, illicit liquor, gambling dens, pickpocket training centres, brothels and lodges are located. If these areas in a police division come under Police surveillance, it will be an easy task for the police to take into custody such criminal elements. Furthermore, the Police Services has not taken serious notice of the numerous lethal weapons in the hands of criminals. Even certain wealthy persons are in possession of dangerous weapons and army deserters too have grenades and dangerous weapons. It is the duty of the Police Service to trace the culprits in possesson of lethal weapons and bring them to book.

If the Police Service can maintain Police- Public relations, the Police will be successful in their endeavour. In a Police Division there are Justices of the Peace, leading citizens, elders, principals and teachers, religious leaders, members of the medical profession, politicians etc. whose assistance could be obtained by the O.I.C. of the area. The Police could obtain information regarding any criminal acts and the whereabout or hidings and also about strangers loitering about the area. Names of informants should not be divulged for safety of the informants. Full police protection should be afforded to them if their mission is to be successful.

The O.I.C. of a station should be assisted by an A.S.P. and should be present at the station to attend to any problems. The presence of an A.S.P. at a police station will help in the administration and in maintaining discipline among lower ranks. Periodically, the O.I.C. with the help of the A.S.P should meet the abovementioned leading citizens and discuss matters related to the police station area. Now it is in the hands of the Police Department and the hierarchy to move into this matter.
A. M. M. Reyal
Mt. Lavinia