Our recent discovery that police stations in Goa have barely a dozen bullet proof jackets for its men, may be alarming. But looking at this figure in isolation would be missing the wood for the trees. The fact that our men in uniform need more and better weapons, bullet proof jackets, faster vehicles and better facilities for rest has been felt and expressed over the years and it is only comprehensive response which can deal with this.
Therefore the near calamity of Goa’s force being bereft of bullet proof jackets should be seen as part of a larger issue that needs to be addressed through comprehensive police reform.
And this reform should clearly be directed towards assessment and evaluation. This should be followed by augmentation of manpower and infrastructure, in the police stations as well as the coastal police stations, which should include gadgets, vehicles and superior technology. And finally, the police stations need to be repaired and strengthened
The long drawn plans to arm the force with life saving gadgets, which could prove crucial in emergencies, is pending. And as we have reported, the 6000 strong police force cannot be the first line of defence in the wake of any terror attack before the ATS, RAF and other para-military commando units are rushed in.
The coastal police stations introduced after the 26/11 attacks to ward off sea borne militants have, to be honest, paid lip service to coastal security. Siolim, Chapora, Ribandar and Tiracol are stations in North Goa while and the three in the south are Mormugao harbour, Betul and Talpona. Initially the harbour coastal security police station had twenty percent of its sanctioned strength. The Betul police station too had a staff of about 20% of its sanctioned strength.
Therefore the need to adopt and implement the comprehensive police reforms bill is absolutely non-negotiable. Also, the nine-member select committee of the Assembly, headed by then Home Minister Ravi S Naik, on police reforms had outlined the need for redefining the role of the police, its duties and responsibilities, by embracing the new challenges of policing and security of the state, empowering the police personnel to carry out functions as an efficient, effective, people-friendly and responsive agency, according to the preamble.
Meanwhile, the 2008 Police Reforms bill on which the current bill is likely to be drawn, has the formation of three units which will be pillars of the police system a) A police commission which will be an ombudsman to oversee police functioning and keep a tab on reform, b) a police establishment board which will oversee recruitments, promotions and transfers and c) most importantly a Police Accountability Authority, which will monitor and act on the conduct of all policemen especially cases of police atrocities and death and violence in custody as well as grevious hurt in police custody under section 320 of the IPC.
These three pillars will be the foundation of a new reformed police structure, which has to be fundamentally efficiency oriented. At the same time this will be giant leap since these reforms will to a large extent, minimize political decision making especially with the Police Reform Board and the Police Accountability Authority.
However, these drivers of change will need political will. The return on this investment can only be better policing and a greater sense of security for the people of Goa.
