by S. J. Anthony Fernando
The Police Service had long been in the public eye something like a curate’s egg, partly good and partly bad. The reality is that while a host of good work had been done by the police in tackling crime and maintaining law and order, sometimes in the most trying conditions, yet there had been instances of the Police earning black marks due to the actions of certain black sheep in the flock. It is also the general pattern of things that the vast amount of good work done by the police is taken for granted while a few misdeeds naturally receive wide publicity and rightful public condemnation taking the winds off the good work done by a vast majority of dedicated and committed police officers. The prime duty of the Police is to provide protection to the people and maintain law and order in the country and tackling breaches of the law by individuals and groups.

In the days gone by — about three decades ago — before the on set of violent conflicts or uprisings, the civilian police had a relatively easy task in discharging their duties required by a civilian police in maintaining law and order and apprehending law breakers.

But of late the situations which the Police Force had to tackle became more complex and complicated due to threats of insurgency, urban terrorism, which continued to raise its ugly head periodically from the early 1970s and continued in spurts till the most violent situations erupted in the 1980s with the escalation of the North-East conflict and the JVP-led rebellion in the South. The civilian police was completely unprepared to face these violent situations unlike the Armed Forces who were specially trained to deal with such situations. Police had to face the brunt of it untrained as they are in armed combat. It is to tackle situations of terrorism indulged in by groups that President J. R. Jayewardene with foresight took the initial step of setting up the Special Task Force which had up to date rendered formidable service in protecting people not only in the face of southern terrorism but also in the North and East, particularly in eastern parts.

Rough treatment

However, to deal with violent situations caused by rebellions even the ordinary police personnel had to be given training in handling more sophisticated arms like the T 56 compared to the ordinary shot guns they were used to handle. With such training the mentality of the normal police personnel also changed making him more inclined to give the rough treatment to people even to small time law breakers or even the innocent. Even the language used by many on ordinary people often became offensive even when a minor traffic offence is committed.

Simultaneous with arms handling came the politicization of the police force when police personnel became more bent on satisfying the requests and demands of politicos relegating to the background their obligations towards the ordinary people.

Now with a peaceful atmosphere prevalent with no imminent rebellion in the south like that caused by JVP in 1971 and 1988-89 or threats of terrorism due to North East conflict looming in the horizon due to the ceasefire agreement, police personnel long used to harbouring this war mentality and politicization for over two decades necessarily have to fit into the new dispensation required in peacetime while being vigilant for any eventuality.

It is not an easy task to change the minds moulded in an environment where they used to always walk around with a T 56 rifle in hand to extend the courtesies to the public overnight. A change had to be effected where the ordinary people need not fear to go to a police station to make a complaint whenever an injustice is done to him or wanted some help. These changes surely may take long to come, not in any case within six or eight months as some people who were responsible in creating such situations would like to put the blame on others now that they are not wielding authority.

It is towards this end that the Minister of Interior John Amaratunga no sooner he took office embarked on the task of driving into the rank and file of the Police Department the need to improve their image by improving public relations starting with entertaining courteously every person who visits a police station to make a complaint or to ask assistance for a redress of a grievance. Following the Minister’s directive every police station was motivated to have a continuous dialogue with the place of religious worship in the area, schools, social service organizations so as to improve public relations and tackle crime and anti social activities in the area. This has resulted in the formation of 25,000 Peace Committee, one in each Grama Sevaka division. This concept of linking the police, school, temple and organizations in the area which was mooted and carried out by late President Ranasinghe Premadasa became non existent after his death and fell by the way side. But now with the revival of this concept by Minister Amaratunga Police have taken to it enthusiastically, and this interaction with the community had already started to bear fruit with police being able to prevent criminal acts and other vices in the areas. The Minister has stressed the need for the police stations to keep up this link with the people unceasingly.

Treating courteously

Another aspect Minister Amaratunga has stressed was the need to improve the services in the police stations so as to provide an efficient service to the public like entertaining complaints by everyone who comes to make a complaint, treating them courteously and attending to their needs. The interior of the Police stations are to be improved to make it more presentable to the public ridding it of the dreary looks.

Though many police stations have improved their services to a certain degree yet others are slow in making the necessary changes. However as a step towards motivating other Police Stations the Minister has initiated a programme of upgrading the services in at least three police stations — at Bambalapitiya, Maharagama and Kadawatha — to serve as models for other police stations to follow. The Bambalapitiya Police Station has already been upgraded to a Model Police Station equipped with computers, to store the essential data and information and also the complaints made so as to improve efficiency. It is also equipped with photocopy machines to provide copies of complaints within a day etc. Even the interior of the Police Station has been improved to get rid of the dreary look and make it more ‘inviting’ to the public.

This concept mooted by the Ministry’s Advisory Committee headed by the famed architect Mihindu Keerthiratne and other former senior public servants and DIGs who had voluntarily come forward to help, has set its target of improving the conditions of police stations and its services with help of private sector organizations since the state resources are limited. Under the Model Services concept the Police officers attached to these police stations are being given a reorientation by getting them to follow special public relations and management study courses for which certain private sector organizations have come forward to assist on a voluntary basis.

As Minister Amaratunga declared at the opening of the Bambalapitiya Model Police Station recently, the priority need is to change the attitudes of the Police officers who are long used to the war mentality and dealing with rebellious or insurgency situations or serving needs of politicians, if the public are to get the best service. He stressed the need for the Police Station to serve as a private sector service organization with the OIC having to act with the efficiency of a Manager of a private company. Motivating others by example, and looking into every aspect whether it be daily routine work as well as welfare of the officers serving. Towards this end police personnel of various grades are now undergoing special training programmes in administration, development of management skills and improving public relations.

With the freeing of large numbers of cadres from serving politicians, and removal of various unnecessary barriers, more cadres are provided to undertake the normal police duties such as night and day patrols which is essential in the prevention of crime.

peaceful atmosphere

In view of the limited resources the Minister is bent on seeking private sector assistance in developing the police stations . With the ready responses received in developing the three model police stations earmarked, the Minister is hopeful that industrialists and entrepreneurs would come forward to develop the police stations in their areas because the resultant peaceful atmosphere that would prevail in their locality by improving efficiency of the police their establishment will also stand to benefit.

Certain organizations have come forward to help police stations by providing vehicles which, the police stations sadly lack now and which will help increased police patrols and detection of crime.

Though there had been a hue and cry about a marked escalation of crime during past six months, police statistics reveal that there had been a marked drop in homicides, abductions, rape, child abuse, extortions during past six months of this year compared to first six months of the previous year (2001) while there had been marginal increases in other crimes like burglaries, thefts, causing hurt and robberies.

Tackling crime and vices need police presence in sufficient numbers. Though there is long felt need of more cadres, the Minister is committed to make maximum use of available manpower and allocating sufficient cadres. It is significant to note the steps taken in improving police public relations and setting up efficient communications between various police divisions have helped detect the offenders of crimes within a short period of the commission of the crime.