Thread by @IndianPolicy_C

True #JusticeForJayarajandBennicks would be long-overdue reforms on police accountability.

The 2nd half of this piece by @avisinghesq
explains how states + centre have subverted police accountability and in fact eroded it.

indianpolicycollective.com/post/the-law-b…

Key excerpts -

In 2006 the Supreme Court in 'Prakash Singh' found that recommendations made by 8 reports of the National Police Commission as far back as 1977 + the SC's concern about indiscriminate use of police power in 'Maneka Gandhi' in 1978 had all been ignored by successive govts.

The SC in 2006 called for a model Police Act and asked for the setting up of a Police Complaints Authority for greater police accountability.

Most states have set this up belatedly and ensured it remains toothless.

Sample this -

Singh also notes -

"Although courts have been reprimanding death caused in custody, the regulation of non-lethal force by police forces is not enshrined in law, either statutorily or judicially. There's almost no punishment for it, and no penalties for the forces they represent"

Democratic engagement in police reforms is urgently needed. But first, we must understand what ails the force.

We have distilled highlights from a shocking diagnostic report from 2019 by Common Cause and CSDS.

indianpolicycollective.com/post/what-ails…

#JusticeForJayarajandBennicks

Excerpts -

1) The force works at roughly 3/4ths of its sanctioned capacity.

2) On an average, just 6.4% of the total actual police strength has been given in-service training in the last 5 yrs for which data is available, and the percentage has been constantly decreasing over the years

3) SCs, STs, OBCs and women are under-represented in the police force.

4) Representation of women is the worst w/ only 7.3% at the national level. None of the states have been able to meet the 33% benchmark, with TN having the highest representation of women at 12.9%

5) We desperately need more women in the police force + more women at the officer-level ranks.

6) Even though as per NFHS data, 99% of cases of sexual assault go unreported, the caseload is relatively much higher for women police officers than men.

7) The report also finds women police officers face serious gender discrimination in the job, often don't have separate toilets, or access to sexual harassment committees.

8) In service gender sensitisation training within the force is rarely given.

Overall, the police force is very stretched -

9) The survey finds that on an average, a personnel works for about 14 hours a day.

10) 3 out of 4 personnel felt that their workload was affecting their physical and mental health.

11) The report also presents startling figures on lack of infrastructure, including vehicles, technology, computers and even a functional land line

12) Despite SC orders, premature transfers continue and transfer percentages go up during election years showing lack of autonomy.

Finally, on biases within the force -

13) 1/5 police personnel is of the opinion that complaints of gender-based violence are false and motivated to a very high extent while almost an equal number of police personnel believe them to be false and motivated to a high extent.

14) 1/5 believe that complaints under the SC / ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act are 'very much' false and motivated.

15) 14% personnel feel that Muslims are ‘very much’ naturally prone to committing crimes, while 36% feel they're are ‘somewhat’ naturally prone.

16) 35% personnel feel (to a large extent and somewhat combined) that it is natural for a mob to punish the culprit in case of cow slaughter.

17) 24% personnel believe that migrants are very much naturally prone to committing crimes, 36%, that they are ‘somewhat’ naturally prone

Read our summary of the 188 pg State of Policing in India Report 2019 for more such startling facts on the working conditions, training and capacity of the police force to understand the roots of the failure of rule of law.

#JusticeForJayarajandBennicks

indianpolicycollective.com/post/what-ails…