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Model police stations and the public

The conventional response to increasing crime is the establishment of more and more police stations. However, rather than give in to this knee-jerk reaction it is encouraging to note that the State is shifting the emphasis to "model" rather than more police stations. One such police station was established in Bambalapitiya and we are told that more will be set up countrywide.

The ordinary citizen is likely to conceptualise a model police station as an institution in which he would be warmly welcomed by the personnel concerned and listened to receptively. In other words, what is expected most by the public from these vital institutions is a people-friendly, cordial service. Going by the travails and trials experienced by some citizens in police stations, a service of this kind doesn't seem to be uniformly provided to them. By saying this we do not intend to imply that all police personnel are people-unfriendly and inefficient. We do have a considerable number of police officers who are doing the police force proud but there are also the bad eggs who need to learn the basics of a conscientious service.

It is our hope, therefore, that the model police station would prove an effective remedy to these ills which have been affecting the service over the years. In their original conception, police stations are seen as fully integrated with civil society. The links between the police and the public are expected to be so strong that the public could rely on the former for ready assistance and succour whenever needed. The ordinary man or woman is not expected to experience any trepidation or inhibitions in approaching the police for assistance. Accordingly, we hope that the need for a hospitable and cordial internal atmosphere has been taken into consideration while installing these model police stations.

Warm and cooperative police-public relations are vitally important in crime busting. This is mainly because ready assistance from the public could help solve many a crime. However, if the Ralahamis on the beat are impolite to or callous in their treatment of the public, such help wouldn't be forthcoming from the people.

Another need of the hour is incorruptible and honest police officers. The war against crime is lost when police officers are seen as unscrupulous and corrupt. In a model police station, however, police personnel would prove impervious to graft and illegal inducements to bend the law. We hope that this crucial experiment in the strengthening of law and order yields police officers who are models of incorruptibility.

We are conscious of the fact that the independence of the police force needs to be established if it is to prove inflexible in the face of pressures emanating from crooked politicians to undermine the course of justice. We hope that this dire need is being addressed by the State. However, it is also true that it takes two to Tango. Unscrupulous politicians could sometimes pervert the course of justice because some police officers prove willing accomplices in the misdeed.

Our model police stations need to address this problem in a systematic way. Police officers need to be steadily conscientized in the principled ways of discharging their duties. Their training needs to incorporate this ethical element which is so vital to the image the police projects to the public.

Great achievement

It is certainly a matter of pride for us Sri Lankans that the 14th Asian Athletics meet is taking place in Colombo this time around. Just a year ago in the wake of the Katunayake airport attack Sri Lanka was a no-go zone for even some of the major airlines of the world, and now we are hosting a truly international event.

That we will also host the International Cricket Council's One-Day tournament at which all the major Test-playing countries will participate is another feather in the country's cap. As a nation we must be grateful for the officials, both elected and appointed who have convinced world sporting bodies that Sri Lanka has the capacity to organise and host these events.

For those who need to market Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and a place where investors can safely make their money grow these events are jewels they can exhibit with pride.

It is now the duty of every citizen in this country to be gracious hosts to the 800-odd athletes and officials who are our guests. We Sri Lankans are well known for our gracious hospitality. Let's keep that image intact.

Thursday evening's stunning opening ceremony would convince all doubters that we can organise and present an occasion equal to anyone else. That it celebrated the one-ness of our people, that it gave joyous expression to the silent majority's fervent desire to be united was the icing on the cake.

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