Police modernisation and reforms, we need both: Former DGP Prakash Singh

Former DGP, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and BSF says that while the funds and the modernisation initiatives are welcome, certain deeper issues need to be addressed if the police are to function effectively

The central government has approved the continuation of a multi-pronged police modernisation scheme for five years, till 2025-26, with a financial outlay of Rs 26,275 crore. From raising new police battalions and developing state-of-the-art forensic laboratories and technology-backed modern investigation tools to security expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxal-affected areas and the Northeastern states, the scheme will cover a wide gambit, the home ministry has said. Prakash Singh, former director general of police, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Border Security Force, tells Veenu Sandhu that while the funds and the modernisation initiatives are welcome, certain deeper issues need to be addressed if the police are to function effectively. Edited excerpts.

In what ways will the funds help modernise the police force and improve policing?

If you look at it, the amount comes to about Rs 5,000 crore per year. That’s not a huge amount for modernising the police force across the country. Nevertheless, it is welcome. There are, however, two aspects that will determine how useful these funds prove to be: one, the utilisation of these funds; and two, their correct utilisation.

Past records tell us that about 45 per cent to as much as 55 per cent of the grants remain unutilised. That is a significant percentage. So where does the problem lie? With the police, the state government or the central government? At various levels, actually. Invariably, the funds come in late – say, in December or even as late as January. There is then not much time left to utilise them. The money is sometimes spent hastily on unproductive expenditure, without a long-term vision or attention to what the actual requirement is. For instance, in one state I found that a luxury car had been placed at my disposal. When I asked them why that was the case and how that kind of money had been put into this, I was told that the car had been procured from the police modernisation fund!

So, besides the timely utilisation of the funds, their proper utilisation is important.

 What is your view on better weapons, gadgetry and forensic equipment making the police force more adept at its job?

The government has been releasing funds for this, and it is all very welcome and will improve things but a deeper change needs to be brought in. As I see it, this is like giving gym equipment for muscle-building to a heart patient. I would say, first treat the heart before handing out treadmills and chest expanders.

The more important thing to do is to bring about serious reforms to insulate the police so that the force is able to function independently and without any pressure from the powers-that-be. Reforms of such kind would bring about a transformation in the efficiency of the force even within existing resources.

The police force is confronted with multiple problems – such as manpower, infrastructure and transportation shortage. So the funds will help with these, but the problems are getting more complex with time. Radical reforms are needed to insulate the police from external pressure. Little will change otherwise. The Supreme Court had (in the matter of <Prakash Singh vs Union of India>, 2006) laid down directives on police reforms for both the central and state governments. One of these directives (the first of the seven) was to constitute a state security commission in each state. The aim was to ensure that the police are protected from unwarranted pressure by the state government. While a number of states do have a state security commission, many of these are farcical bodies. They are either inactive or continue to face external interference.

The result is that the police remain subordinate to the executive or the political class. Of course, we are training and educating the force but the core needs to be strengthened and given the independence to function.

Coming to the nature of crime. How well-equipped are the police to keep pace with technology being employed by criminals? There is increasing focus on training the police to crack cybercrimes and work in collaboration with cybersecurity experts.

We are improving in this respect but the gap continues to be wide. At the current pace, we cannot keep up with the technology and the ways in which criminals are employing it. With time, this gap will only widen. Yes, we do have young, new-generation recruits coming in now who are adept at technology but we need to think out of the box. I would say, take in experts. For instance, the police should be recruiting from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Induct youngsters from the IITs at an appropriate level. They are the tech guys; they will give a tough fight to tech-backed crime. Let them function in plain clothes. Give them the equipment and the environment they’d need. The CID and vigilance have such teams; the police should, too.

The approach needs to be different and has to evolve with time. But what is key is to insulate the police from pressures. Let it do its job. Or else we will continue to grapple with situations where the sharks get away and all we net are the small fish. Police modernisation and police reforms, we need both.