the problems faced by the police force in India, as outlined by Mr Jayant Umaranikar

India’s crime rate has been growingly rapidly in the past few years. It has surpassed the rate of growth in the past decade, making India stand at number 10 in crime rate growth. The major reason behind this rapid increase is the inefficiency of the Indian police force. For a fairly long time, crime in our country was fought with what was called ‘beat patrolling’, groups of constabulary patrolling streets in anticipation that the fright of being trapped red-handed would be adequate to dissuade would-be criminals, the advancements in technology has changed everything yet the system hasn’t been modernized entirely, most of these technologies are unavailable in rural India, in these areas people still have to travel to an adequate location to report a crime. Mr Jayant Umaranikar talked about the major problems faced by the police force today and how they can be prevented. According to him a change in the quality of functioning of the police department is highly needed, a better workforce, increasing the equipment and increasing funds would definitely help in making the Indian police force one of the best forces in the world. The main problem behind this is the corruption and the lack of investment. Every other policeman is corrupt, there were an approximate of 66,00,000 crimes cases and these are not all as there are many officers that would let the criminal go for a bit of cash or just don’t find the case to be registered and further investigation made. Corruption is our forces biggest enemy. The police force is also way too underequipped; across the country, there are only 7 vehicles for 100 policemen, which is why they are strained to use public transport. Our police force is also backward with combat equipment and weaponry.  Another major problem faced by the police force mentioned by Mr Umaranikar is lack of funds for training and equipment, a part of the Indian police force is still equipped with the world war I style pistols and derisory bulletproof vests, they are also unable to perform in a combat as they haven’t been properly trained to use firearms in combat. The government has decided to make investments in technical and cyber intelligence, forensic capabilities and communication systems so the police force is able to keep up with the increasingly urbane technology, which is utilized by modern criminals, but it is evenly imperative that solemn efforts should be made to perk up technological dissemination within the police department. Many parts of the country are operating without minimal technology such as the internet. Mr. Umaranikar believes that to improve the current state of the Indian police force, the police department needs a better workforce, better equipment and increased funds for constant training, and according to him, for better policing and to fortify democratic performance, there should be an amend in the mind-set of the common people, the political parties and the rulers of the country.

Latika Parmar