History of Policing in India

• The word "police" comes from the Latin word "politia," which means the condition of a state and the term means a system of regulation for the preservation of order and regulation of law

Ancient & Medieval Period

• Vedic Period references security forces in the Rig Veda and Atharva Veda and evidence indicates that security forces existed even in the Harappan Period

Mauryan Period (322-185 BCE)

• Kautilya's Arthashastra mentions police functionaries like Dandpala, Durgapala, and Antapala were responsible for maintaining law and order
• The Mauryas organized criminal justice system

Medieval Period

• The police system was further developed under the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal rule
• The head of police was called the fouzdar, in charge of the entire police force with subordinates termed Darogas or Kotwals

British Period

• The modern police system in India originated in British rule
• Lord Cornwallis introduced the first policing system in Bengal in 1792, replacing the zamindars and thanedari systems
• Darogans, Mohurrirs, Zamindars, and Burkandazes were assigned to each district with separate police stations
• The Police Act of 1861 became the first comprehensive legislation introducing the modern police system to larger parts of India
• The military system was separated from civil policing and laid the foundations of police organization in India
• The Police Commission of 1902-03 analyzed the working of the police during the British regime

Post-Independence

• The basic structure of the police system remained the same after independence, based on the Police Act of 1861
• The National Police Commission in 1977 saw the police to be defective in training, organization, public relations, and welfare measures, and generally regarded as corrupt and oppressive

Challenges and the Need for Reforms

• The police system in India faces challenges, including politician-police-criminal nexus, political interference, overburdened police force, lack of accountability, corruption, human rights violations, and outdated laws and procedures based on the colonial Police Act of 1861
• Reforming the police system is needed to make it efficient, accountable and responsive to modern society needs
• The Supreme Court gave directives in 2006 to the government implement police reforms, and progress has been slow

Police in Indian Constitution

• Under the Indian Constitution, police is primarily a state subject, governed by provisions in the Seventh Schedule
• Each of India's states has its own police force to maintain law and order within its jurisdiction
• The central government maintains its own police forces to assist states in ensuring security and law enforcement

Constitutional Framework

• State Control: Article 246 of the constitution assigns the responsibility for law enforcement to state governments and the police are organized and regulated by state laws, primarily derived from the Police Act of 1861, which continues to influence police organization across many states
• Central Role: The constitution allows for a central role in policing, through the establishment of the Indian Police Service (IPS), which provides senior officers to state forces and the central government can intervene in policing matters, especially in cases of national security or when requested by state governments

Responsibility

• The police's primary functions include investigating crimes, enforcing laws, and maintaining public order
• State police respond to local issues, while central forces may be deployed for specialized tasks or emergencies

Accountability & Reforms

• The relationship between the political executive and police has raised concerns and reports that political interference can lead to misuse of power and experts have called to ensure greater accountability and operational independence for police forces

Structure & Organization

• The structure of the state police forces includes:
• Director General of Police (DGP): Head of the state's police force
• Superintendents of Police (SP): Responsible for district-level policing
• Police Stations: Basic units where constables carry out day-to-day law enforcement duties
• Each state may have specialized units to handle specific types of crime or emergencies

Conclusion

• The Indian Constitution provides a framework for states to manage their police forces while enabling the central government to play a supportive role and ongoing discussions focus on enhancing accountability and reducing political interference to ensure effective law enforcement in India
• The role, powers, and functions of police in India are governed by various provisions of the Indian Constitution and detailed in laws such as the Indian Police Act, 1861, and other state-level statutes
• While the construction itself does not directly create or regulate police forces, it provides a framework that affects policing in the country

Police as a State Subject (Seventh Schedule)

• Entry of 2 of the State List in the 7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution places "Police" under the jurisdiction of the individual states and each state in India has the authority to legislate on matters related to the police force, its organization, powers, and functions
• As a result, every state has its own police force, and the laws governing the police can differ from state to state

Fundamental Rights & Policing

• Article 21 (Right to Life & Personal Liberty): Policing in India is subject to the fundamental rights provided in Part III of the Constitution where actions of police officers must respect the right to life and liberty of individuals
• Article 22 (Protection against Arbitrary Arrest and Detention): This article lays down arrest and detention and requires that arrested individuals must be informed of the grounds of their arrest and must be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours
• Article 19 (Freedom of Speech & Movement): Police powers to maintain law and order cannot violate individuals' rights to freedom of speech, assembly, or movement except under reasonable restrictions provided by law

Directive Principles & Policing

• The Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) guide the creation of laws and policies aimed at promoting social welfare, including the efficient functioning of law enforcement, but these are not court enforceable, but provide a framework within which states should develop their police forces

Judicial Oversight on Police Powers

• The Supreme Court of India and the High courts have broad supervisory powers to ensure that police forces operate within the law and respect constitutional rights and they can intervene in cases of police misconduct, arbitrary actions, or human rights violations through writ petitions such as habeas corpus, mandamus, and certiorari

Central Armed Police Forces

• The central government has certain armed police forces, such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF), which assist states in maintaining law and order, especially in times of crisis or during elections

Police Reforms

• There have been efforts to reform the police system in India over the years, especially following recommendations by various committees like the National Police Commission and judicial directives from the Supreme Court and the reforms aim to make the police force more independent, transparent and accountable to the law

Role in Maintaining Public Order

• Entry 1 of the State List deals with "Public order" deals with policing functions for maintaining public order
• The police are responsible for maintaining public order and preventing crimes such as riots, unlawful assemblies and other disruptions

Key Legislations Related to Police

• Indian Police Act, 1861: The primary law governing the organization and duties of police in most states

Police Reforms Acts

• Many states have passed their own police acts, especially after the Supreme Court's directive in the 2006 Prakash Singh vs. Union of Indian case, which mandated certain police reforms to ensure independence from political interference

Objective of Police

• Police organizations serve essential functions in society and are primarily aimed at maintaining public order, ensuring safety, and enforcing laws
• The Objectives of Police are:
• Maintaining Public Order and Safety: This includes responding to emergencies, managing public disturbances, and preventing crime through proactive measures such as patrolling and community engagement
• Enforcing Laws: Enforcing local, state, and Federal laws to involve investigating criminal activities, apprehending offenders and ensuring that justice is served through the legal system
• Preventing Crime: Involves engaging in crime prevention strategies, which may include community outreach programs, educational initiatives on safety, and collaboration with local organizations to address underlining social issues that contribute to crime
• Providing Community Service: Beyond law enforcement, police officers frequently engage in community service activities, which includes offering assistance in non-criminal matters, providing support during community events, and serving as a resource for citizens in need of help
• Building Community Relations: Policing fosters positive relationships b/w police officers and community members by achieving community of policing strategies for collaboration of law enforcement and the public

Training and Professional Development

• Continuous training for police personnel is vital to ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills to handle various situations effectively, including in conflict resolution, emergency response and understanding legal products

Accountability & Transparency

• Modern policing emphasizes the importance of accountability where police departments are increasingly adopting measures to ensure transparency in their operations & decision making processes to building trust of the communities they serve

Main Objective of Police

• The main objective of the police is to prevent crime and disorder and they also have other duties including upholding and enforcing the law impartially, protecting life, liberty, property, human rights & dignity, promoting & preserving public order, safeguarding freedom, preserving life & property, protecting the constitutional rights of citizens & maintaining respect of the rule of law/preserving democratic processes

General Organization of Police

• Hierarchical structure:
  • Chief of Police: At the top of hierarchy, chief of police oversees the entire police department and is responsible for its administration and operations
  • Deputy of chief/Assistant chefs: They assist the chief of police in managing various divisions or units within the department
  • Captains: Typically oversees specific precincts or divisions, managing day-to-day operations & personnel
  • Lieutenants: They supervise sergeants & officers, ensuring that departmental policies are followed & operational goals are met
  • Sergeants: First-line supervisors who supervise patrol officers & detectives, providing guidance & support
  • Officers/Detectives: The bulk of police force consists of uniformed officers who respond to calls for service, conduct patrols & engage in community policing, along with detectives who investigate crime

Specialized Units

• Many police departments have specialized units that focus on specific areas of law enforcement like:

• Traffic division: Responsible for enforcing traffic laws & investigating accidents

• Criminal Investigation Division (CID): Handles serious crimes such as homicide, robbery & sexual offenses

• Community policing unit: Engages with community members to build trust and cooperation

• K-9 unit: Utilizes trained dogs for various tasks including drug detection & search-4-rescue operations

Organizational Variations

• Structure can differ based on the size of the police agency

• Large urban Departments: Often have multiple divisions & specialized units due to the complexity of urban crime

• Small Rural Departments: May have a flatter structure with fewer ranks 4 specialized units due to limited resources

• Police Forces may also be organized by regions or zones, each managed by higher-ranking officers

GOP at State level & Range levels

• Organization of police at the state level in India primarily under the authority of the state's Home Department, with each state maintaining its own police force
• The Director General of Police (DGP), an officer from the Indian Police service (IPS), heads the state police force & is responsible for law enforcement, crime prevention and maintaining public order
• DGP = Director General of Police/Chief of the state police
• ADGP = Additional Directors G.P/Assist the DGP in various functions
• IG = He Inspector General of Police/Heads police ranges, overseeing multiple districts
• DIG = Deputy I.G./Supervises specific districts or ranges
• SP = Superintendent of Police/Manages individual districts, with senior SP's overseeing larger districts
• DSP = In charge of subdivisions within districts
• Police stations are led by an inspector, supported by sub-inspectors & assistant sub-inspectors

Police Organisation Under Central Govr.

• Police organizations under the central government primarily fall under the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), which is governed by the ministry of Home affairs, includes various paramilitary police forces responsible for internal security and border p

• Key components of CAPF are:

  • Border Security Forces (BSF)which manages border security with Pakistan & Bangladesh
  • Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) engages in internal security operations, including anti-terrorism & riot control
  • Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) provides security to critical infrastructure & public sector undertakings
  • Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) guards the Indo-china Border & Assam Rifles focuses on border security and counter-insurgency in Northeast India
  • National security guard (NSG) specializes in counterterrorism operations

• Additionally, other central police organizations include the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and various research & training institutes like the Bureau of Police Research & Development

Ministry of Home Affairs

• Armed Police organization:

  • Assam Rifles (AR)
  • Border Security Force (BSF)
  • Central Industrial security force (CISF)
  • Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
  • Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
  • National Security Guards (NSG)
  • Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
  • Special protection group (SPG)

• Unarmed Police organisation:

  • Intelligence Bureau (IB)
  • Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
  • Bureau of Police research & deve. (BPRED)
  • National crime record Bureaur (NCRB)
  • Directorate of Cood. of Police wireless (DCPW)
  • Narcotics control Bureau(NCB)
  • National Police Academy(NPA)
  • National institute of Ceiminology & F.S(NICFS)
  • Directorate of Forensi science services(DRSS)
  • National investigation agency(NIA)

Police organization under three heads

• Ministry of home affairs divides them into law & order & Security, criminal investigation & intelligent agencies, agencies used for communication, training, Research & scientific support:

  • Law & Order & Security have has, BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP , NSG, SSB & SPG
  • Criminal investigation has CBI, IB, NCP, Serious fraud investigation and ZFA
  • Comminication, Training and research has, BPRED, NICFS, NPA, DCPW

• **BSF

• (Border security force):-**

  • Stands For Border security force
  • Stands for Parliamsilitary force used by of India
  • On of the five central army forces and was established by in 1965 after the indo pakistan
  • The BSF is reponsible for gaurding indaian borders
  • act was passed in parliament in 1968 and came inot intoeffect

• The BSF has to keep and maintian peace time as well as war.

• The BSF has to protect trans order in terrirtory of inda nd help maintin civilis

Assam rifles

• This force was framed in 1835 and named in 1917 as Assam Rifles
• Had most senir posiitons from amy and were directly a part of the of Exteranalaffairsuntil it cwas transfered to Minstry of home afairs
• Its chaters its mainting security
• Its helps containt law as other states ask

CENTRAL RESERVE POLICE FORCES (CRPF)

• -The CRPF was durived from the CRP (clown Representatives Police)
• -Primary was to ptotec to ititsh resideentstatesof inda it was rename under CRPF an act and as one point added commnad to coounterNaxalites
• Minstry helps goveren overeseght this and is largest para army in C

CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE (CSIF)-

• To ensure securtiy to industeies and was made officila act with the help of goverment and mintersy
• Minstry ensure pased with act to protect Minstry help goverment enage to do its work in the country

Airport Security

• The security helps continul all commericalarports and has been security since 141
• The CISF protets and maintin air ports to get on its feett

Delhi Metero

• The security also provides dehih metro

INDO-TIBETAN BORDER POLICE (ITBP):-

• To provide secuirty along with indias borers. One of four batttailins
• to help maintin interntal secuirty
• It helps to maintian peace, preverent crimes and help otherw

NATIONAL SECURITY GUARD (NSG)

To protets commmand and help with terrioets

ISGs SPECIFIC GOALS

• To neutrqliezed terrioris, hjandole and help with bombis

BUREAU OF POLICE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (BPR40)

• Set up to of india for goverment and police for ces

History & Evolution of BPRD

• To help polciing be in advsiory tole,. Training and developme, and to help improve

DIVISIONS OF PRESENT

• TO improve research, developm,ent and divison

ORGANIZATION

• Its set up for researchm ecnmoti cs and crime analticsq

FUNCTIONS INCLUDE

• Crime rates and helps to reaseach

CENTRAL BURAEU OF INVETIGATEIONS

• to preotect police and in force

Intelligence bureau

• Is one of the best inforamtint