The common objective of all the initiatives as part of KP police reforms is “improved public service delivery of police”. Respectful engagement with public is crucial to ensure a crime-free society, minimize public-police gaps and tackle the trust deficit between them. The police today in KP is ever more accountable where postings, transfers and promotions have been linked with performance. Hundreds of police officials punished on corruption charges exemplify the accountability mechanisms in-place within the KP police. A good police officer is the one who has good relations with public. The police officials should critically evaluate their performance against the tax payers money spent on their emoluments. Change; reformation and institutionalization is a long term process and takes time.
These were the remarks made by Dr. Mian Saeed, newly appointed DPO Mardan during a public forum on police reforms at press club, Mardan. Mr. Himayat Ullah Mayar, District Nazim, Mardan and Prof. Saeed Ahmed, Degree College Mardan also spoke on the occasion. The event was participated well by the members of community with diverse backgrounds including lawyers, local government representatives, media, academia and youth representatives. The forum was part of the project “Ulasi Police” an awareness and advocacy campaign undertaken by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) – as part of USAID Small Grants and Ambassadors’ Fund Program – to strengthen the rule of law in KP province by promoting and disseminating the significant police reforms aimed at incorporating local communities’ policing needs and international human rights standards. The endeavor aims to tackle the trust deficit between the public and police, help KP police become an accountable and community-focused police force.
The DPO Mardan also said that decreasing the gaps between the public and police – at the hands of militancy post 2006 – was one of the primary considerations of police reforms. Talking about some of the salient reforms, he said that Dispute Resolution Councils (DRCs) have been instrumental in solving hundreds of public disputes which ultimately reduced the burden of judiciary and saved citizens’ expenditures on legal services. The Police Access Service (PAS) has also doled out justice to thousands of public members.
Mr. Himayat Ullah Mayar, District Nazim, Mardan said that the nations who have developed themselves have a long history of struggle and determination. Addressing the LG representatives present in the event, he said that they have key roles to play in the crime-free and just society; collaborating with the local police authorities. “Behaving respectfully with public is not only the moral responsibility of police officials but a legal binding on them by law”, he narrated the sections 3&4 of KPPO 2016 and underscored displaying these regulations in the police stations. The KP police reforms are hoped to empower public better express their concerns and speak up for their rights. The public-police partnership is also crucial in terms of crime-control in the society. The public should also realize their roles and responsibilities, and share the critical information with police.
Prof. Saeed Ahmed from Degree College Mardan said that KP police was actively reforming its structure to improve their public service. For better linkages and improved relations between the police and public, it is important for both of them to understand each other and their issues. He appreciated the CRSS initiative for selecting and working on such an important issue and undertaking to develop the critical public-police linkages.