142 nd Police Day today:

Improving Police performance

Mithra Ariyasinha

As a retired Police officer with an abiding interest in the reputation, image, continuing upgrading of Police Performance in Sri Lanka I wish to call upon all serving and retired officers to contribute to continuous upgrading of Police performance by continuous constructive suggestions and actions and not mere negative destructive criticisms that serve little purpose resulting in defensive behaviour and attempting to conceal facts.

Introspection or inward reflection on one’s actions and implications enable enlightening self knowledge, self correction and better behaviour.

Use of both individual and team participatory SWOT Analysis identifying Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats is invaluable to identify where improvements are needed and training needs and then strive to arrange for continuous improvement to attain excellence in performance.

Continuously observing and noting, listening, reading, revelations of shortcomings by knowledgeable others, those in touch with grass roots, politicians, field officers, Media, Parliamentary speeches & recent Parliamentary hansards, researching on above and public complaints judicial proceedings and judgments and studying and analysing all of them with open mind will help identify real shortcomings that need to be addressed seriously.

In respect of politicians, who get more opportunities to be in touch with the communities and receive public representations, it is necessary in a democratic set up to give attention, understand in an un- prejudiced manner having checked and analysed, whether the representations are in the public interest and interest of the Department and take appropriate action in a manner not to be unfair or unjust to a third party.

Never be influenced by power and respond to mere selfish demands of politicians. Thereby, Police officers will have a clear conscience, be ethical and earn public respect for the individuals, the Department and the State.

Some of the ways the Police Department or certain Divisions or Districts or officers kept high standards in efficiency, productivity, effectiveness, integrity and reputation during particular periods in the past were by regular thorough detailed inspections, monitoring, internal auditing, close oversight and supervision of both units and officers with certain Officers in charge or superiors setting an example with exemplary behaviour and following up to overcome shortcomings of their own and of the team.

The behaviour of team members were monitored, overseen, supervised, regularly; quality performance was appreciated, recognised, well rewarded ensuring motivation.

Improper performance, such as corruption, malpractices, negligence of duty, particularly acts, omissions that could have damaging effects was spotted and swift appropriate action initiated.

Priority was given to corrective and remedial measures including counselling and disciplining in a fair manner to develop internal self control, good values, discipline and positive attitudes to perform with commitment, duty consciousness, accountability and quality, ensuring conformity to laws, rules, regulations and code of conduct.

Public Relations

Some of such officers gave close attention to public relations, with empathy, sensitivity to public needs, due respect, care, courtesy, people friendly manner and attending, responding speedily to victims of crime, public complainants, users of police services and informants.

Even regarding suspects and offenders some of them were particular about observance of human rights and not under any circumstances permitting torture, arbitrary actions, but following up to ensure objectivity, due process of law, equality before the law without discrimination or prejudices, however influential the victim or suspect was.

With the introduction of the Citizen’s Charter and its excellent code for public relations, if sufficient awareness, training and monitoring of its observance is done, Police will be able to build up good public relations and a reputation and also earn much cooperation to supply information.

It is heartening to note that with support from UK , renewed interest and training has resumed on Community Policing. Choice of appropriate committed officers for the project, further training, guidance, supervision should yield better results.

Since much attention has been recently given to the subject with Sweden’s support for capacity building of Crime Scene investigation and crime scene officers and also use of DNA. Empathy is so important for Police officers to get a better understanding, develop rapport, explore in depth and get better revelations from victims, witnesses and suspects during an investigation.

Empathy helps to get confessions without resort to third degree methods and human rights violations and instead arranging for confrontations with persons aware of true facts, which enable to get at true facts when victim, witness, suspect are trying to conceal certain facts or give concocted versions. Where and when appropriate even arranging for surveillance and bugging to record secret conversations.

Public Disorder

With regard to handling of public disorder or imminent or potential public disorder the practice of effective officers were to keep in close touch with all Intelligence gathering units and informants in close communication, coordination and collaboration and analysis to gain proper appreciation of threat perception and identify potential trouble makers and keep them under surveillance. Police must strive hard within the law to keep demonstrators out of risk or high security zones.

Be well prepared with sufficient selected (avoiding taking short tempered excitable officers), taking only disciplined well trained units, both unarmed crowd control Units and armed riot squads. Keep them under proper control within sight or proximity and in communication with officers in command of situation.

All should be well briefed regarding not to get provoked by challenges, utterances of the crowd or provoke them with counter utterances or even body language to get aggressive. Instead make use of psychological strategies with persuasive speakers to communicate with organisers and gathering to cooperate in maintaining order.

All precautions should be taken by Police on duty at the spot to have patience and empathic perception, with continuous eye contact with the crowd and appropriate communication with them. Ensure that prompt action is taken to see that dissatisfaction and provocative behaviour from either party does not explode into a tense law and order situation and rioting or excessively violent police action like baton charges and shooting.

Only, if the situation demands for control, only needed reasonable minimum force permitted under commanding officer’s control. Be however prepared to act swiftly, if the assembly or persons resort to violence/ disorder; to take action in the right of private defense of persons and property within the law and in a rational manner fit for the situation.

The officer in command must keep a close watch to ensure officers do not lose their patience, get provoked and act without acting within the law and reasonable limits. Drawing attention of the Authorities, Media & the Public through mobilizing masses, students and organizing Street Demonstrations has become far too frequent, now mainly attempted to be used as a weapon against the Executive by certain Opposition elements.

They do not seem to care for the damage being done to the country’s welfare at a time when resources like time, productivity, energy of the Police, Security Forces, Public officials are so vital for country’s security and order maintenance, development, economy and survival amidst terrorist threat to security, threat from climatic change to food security and rising fuel costs all factors largely beyond the control of our State.

Grievances

The amount of human rights violations that such demonstrations cause to ordinary law abiding citizens by obstructing serious patients being rushed to hospitals, youth proceeding to classes, exams, job interviews, sports practices or matches, parents anxiously rushing to pick up small children are so numerous and lead to unpopularity of politicians, activists and their activities and damage their image.

Media highlight the happenings at demonstrations and create in the minds of potential investors that Sri Lanka is an unstable country. Such demonstrations have always the risk of leading to serious violence by some of the demonstrators, those opposed to them.

Whether it be the University Student Unions, Teachers Unions or Federation of Trade Unions or any other Organisations could mobilise those, who have a knowledge of the subject matter of the grievances and meet at a convenient quiet place have a preliminary discussion using brain storming, mind mapping using Newsprint sheets and marker pens and generate ideas and chose aspects that need to be presented. Also choose those who best contributed ideas and communicated effectively to lead in presenting and advocating the issues.

If needed for various aspects or topics they could appoint teams to research, study and prepare on those subjects. They could have another session with a smaller group in the same way and chose the best advocates of various aspects and prepare the final presentations, rehearse, review and make a final decision of the delegation, who can present their case/s to the Authorities.

The writer is a retired Senior DIG.