'Police reforms not possible if politicians interfere'

Reforms in various police departments of the country cannot be effective until the interference by the political leaders and ministers in the work of the department is stopped, security experts said here on Friday.

They said though there were several efforts being made to modernise the police forces, political leaders continued interfering even in the recruitment process of police officers.

"The technology and all other advancement cannot be functional if the political class keeps interfering in the works of police. It is very sorrowful," former Mumbai police commissioner J.F. Riberio said.

He was speaking at the round table conference on Smart Policing - India's Growth Imperative organised by business chamber FICCI in the national capital.

Riberio said that most of the police officers joining the force were intelligent but lacked the interest to serve people and solve their problems.

"People joining police force now a days are definitely intelligent but they lack the interest to serve people and deliver justice. There is a need to change their mind set," he said.

He said that a lot of people, despite becoming victim of various types of crimes, do not approach police just because many a times, police do not act strong in spite of knowing everything.

Prakash Singh, chairman of Police Foundation and Institute said that India was trying to build up a global image without paying heed to the internal rifts in the internal security.

"Today, the situation is such that Indian police forces are in a bad condition. India is trying to build up a global image but ignoring the internal rifts and problems, which cannot be successful," he said.

Speaking further, he said there was a need of systematic reforms in Indian police departments and those should be implemented without anybody's hindrance.

"There was also a need for the governments to amend the constitution and make the required changes to improve The police forces of the country," Prakash Singh said, who was also the police chief of Uttar Pradesh and Assam.