A National Police Academy - what is expected of it

Continued from last Saturday

Speech made in Parliament, Oct. 6, on the occasion of the second reading of the National Police Academy Bill by Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, MP

Prepared for the debate in Parliament on October 6th 2011

Mr Speaker, this bill to establish a National Police Academy is most welcome, and I am happy to speak in support. Such an institution is long overdue, given the importance of the police with regard not only to national security, but also to questions of basic law and order as well as the often-trivial disputes that colour daily life, which are seen as momentous by the individuals they affect. A force that is able to understand the differences between the various tasks they have to perform, to apply the appropriate measures based on their legal powers, and to serve all members of all communities with sympathy and understanding, is a must.

For this, Mr Speaker, we need to have a body of personnel able to think and distinguish priorities and particular requirements, and to apply their powers judiciously and effectively. They must also be aware of their responsibilities, as well as the rights and the duties of the people they serve.

Security forces

This is true of all security forces, and one reason for the enormous success of our military establishment is the concerted training programme they have developed over the last decade and more. We have high level academies for the army and navy and air force, in addition to the Kotelawala Defence University, and these ensure military efficiency as well as the knowledge and the soft skills necessary for effective functioning in the modern world. Emphasis on subjects such as law and international relations, as well as thinking and problem solving and decision making skills, with high level training in communicative capacity, has transformed our military into an exemplary force.

Better awareness

I used to often make this point when I was Head of the Peace Secretariat, and chaired a committee intended to improve Human Rights with regard to the police. I should note though that the senior police officials who were on this committee were also worried about what they saw as declining capacity, and made clear the deficiencies in training that were occurring because of the emergency situation. Whereas basic officer cadet training in the army had been lengthened in spite of the need for more officers, the parallel course for Sub Inspectors of the Police had been shortened.

Another small but I think significant shortcoming was that the Police no longer prepared a Handbook which laid down guidelines for personnel. We were told that this used to be distributed to all ranks in the old days, to make clear what was expect on them. We began therefore work on a revised version of this, with a synopsis that could also be made available to the public, so that they had a better awareness of the role of the Police and the relationship that should obtain with the populace. Unfortunately that too was forgotten as changes in structures and personnel took place, and there was no longer a dedicated agency working on such matters together with police officials.

Senior Police officers also drew my attention to the failure to conduct courses from which they themselves had benefited, such as the advanced detective course. When I suggested more work in Human Rights, they noted too the need for increased professionalism. After all, if young officers are not skilled in interrogation and investigation, they will be tempted to turn to alternative methods of solving cases. Again, while the low rate of conviction - which is not so very different indeed from that which obtains in other countries - might be attributed to a lack of commitment, it also springs from weaknesses in prosecuting ability which better training might overcome.

Tamil language course

There is also need to bring syllabuses up to date. We noted for instance that, whereas the army had developed a very practical Tamil language course, the Police dwelt on learning the alphabet, which took up almost all the time allotted. Again, with regard to Human Rights, there was a tendency to rely on lecture notes, whereas we managed to introduce a course for trainers which included role plays, so that officers would understand the implications of actions they took.

But such interventions, as I realized when they ground to a halt with changing of personnel in relevant positions, should not depend on individual initiatives, they need to be institutionalized. It is for that reason that we kept suggesting an National Police Academy, so I was delighted when I was told a few months back that this would soon be a reality. But at the same time we must make sure that it functions as effectively as the military academies, and institutes high level training for officers from the time of recruitment, with provision for continuous training throughout their careers. They must also be trained in the soft skills that the military now possesses, with understanding of the various contexts in which they might operate, and management and communication skills suited to the different positions they might occupy.

Communication skills

I hope that, as happened with the Sri Lanka Military Academy when it became a degree awarding institution, way back in 2000, there will be constant consultation with academics, and special attention to communication skills and international awareness, so that our police will in the future be able to hold their own in any situation. I realized from the calibre of the officers with whom I have interacted, both in dealing with unfair attacks on us at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, as well as in promoting rationalization and reform in various fields when I was Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, that we had personnel of great efficiency and decency. The tradition they represent must be strengthened, and entrenched, through an Academy that develops standards and expectations to which its alumni will live up.

That will make it more difficult for aberrations to occur, and for individuals who are responsible for such to escape censure. I hope then that this measure will lead to a greater consciousness of the role of the police, greater attention to discipline and training, greater accountability to the service and its standards as well as to the public. We should all be grateful to the Ministry for this initiative, and look forward to far greater professionalism and dedication and understanding in the Police as a result of the National Police Academy.

Concluded