As the commercial hub of Dimapur works on modalities to tackle crimes, the State Home Minister has once again pushed his case for introducing ‘community policing’. The Home Minister feels that if we can establish community policing, the “security situation of Dimapur will definitely improve”. The intention of our Home Minister is well appreciated because he is obviously concerned about fighting crime and everyone must put in their effort in a collective manner and in that sense community policing is definitely an option. In fact, this idea of involving the community in policing had already been proposed back in 2009 and apparently had taken shape in some localities but never took off in the way it was envisaged. Now reports suggest that the State Cabinet is actually not in favour of this concept. It therefore appears to be the case that firstly, there seems to be uncertainty about how to design and implement community policing in our context and secondly, there seems to be not many takers including the Cabinet for this idea. The question therefore is whether this latest initiative of the Home Minister will see the light of day. One will have to wait and see. A proposal to constitute a committee to work out modalities for the formation of community police was agreed in a meeting chaired by the Home Minister on September 17 at Dimapur.
Although this column is not opposed to the idea as such, however our own take on this whole thing of community policing is a little different. Firstly community policing is more about forging partnerships between police and people in order to improve trust, better communication and collaborate wherever needed. This is a win-win situation as both will benefit. However community policing cannot be just done overnight by setting up committees and expecting results immediately. Secondly therefore there has to be a clear plan of action on how to set up this community policing. This will require consistency and patience. The problem right now seems to be that there is lack of clarity on how to create and implement this community policing. Thirdly we must raise this question as to whether such a concept is practical and even advisable in our present Naga situation where already there is so much of conflict, distrust and misunderstanding of our tribes, groups, clans, parties, colonies etc. What will happen if community policing turns to mob violence, lawlessness and even more conflict. Further we believe that community policing will require outmost discipline, respect for authority and law, sound judgment and reasoning etc. Do we have these qualities?
Fourthly, we need to be careful when we explore the possibilities of community policing that we should not expect some sort of miracle to happen. In fact, nothing can replace a professional, capable and sincere police force. Fighting crimes, maintaining law and order is the job of the police not the community. As suggested by the Home Minister we can look at community policing but we would suggest that this is done in one or two selected area on experimental basis. Let us give more emphasis in improving and strengthening our existing police force/machinery so that crimes can be fought effectively. Necessary incorporation of latest technology into the police force must be taken up on priority. In fact there are enough funds available under the police modernization programme given by the Central government. Unfortunately this is not being utilized properly. This is something for the higher authorities in the Home Ministry and Police Headquarters to reflect and correct upon. At the end of the day, whether to go for community policing or not, this should not take away our focus from the more important task and agenda of reinforcing our police machinery.
Although this column is not opposed to the idea as such, however our own take on this whole thing of community policing is a little different. Firstly community policing is more about forging partnerships between police and people in order to improve trust, better communication and collaborate wherever needed. This is a win-win situation as both will benefit. However community policing cannot be just done overnight by setting up committees and expecting results immediately. Secondly therefore there has to be a clear plan of action on how to set up this community policing. This will require consistency and patience. The problem right now seems to be that there is lack of clarity on how to create and implement this community policing. Thirdly we must raise this question as to whether such a concept is practical and even advisable in our present Naga situation where already there is so much of conflict, distrust and misunderstanding of our tribes, groups, clans, parties, colonies etc. What will happen if community policing turns to mob violence, lawlessness and even more conflict. Further we believe that community policing will require outmost discipline, respect for authority and law, sound judgment and reasoning etc. Do we have these qualities?
Fourthly, we need to be careful when we explore the possibilities of community policing that we should not expect some sort of miracle to happen. In fact, nothing can replace a professional, capable and sincere police force. Fighting crimes, maintaining law and order is the job of the police not the community. As suggested by the Home Minister we can look at community policing but we would suggest that this is done in one or two selected area on experimental basis. Let us give more emphasis in improving and strengthening our existing police force/machinery so that crimes can be fought effectively. Necessary incorporation of latest technology into the police force must be taken up on priority. In fact there are enough funds available under the police modernization programme given by the Central government. Unfortunately this is not being utilized properly. This is something for the higher authorities in the Home Ministry and Police Headquarters to reflect and correct upon. At the end of the day, whether to go for community policing or not, this should not take away our focus from the more important task and agenda of reinforcing our police machinery.
