The atmosphere of fear for life and property among the populace is detrimental to political process. The State has the sacred obligation to protect the lives and properties of all citizens. While much is being done to protect the political personages and their progeny-with no limit on expenditure-hardly any thing is being done to assure the common man of his safety. As a matter of fact, day by day, common man is forced to fend for himself as he is unable to seek the protection of the normal police organisation. There is urgent need to stem this rot and ensure that the state performs its basic duties towards the citizens. This would call for the reorientation of thinking on the part of the State and the police organisation, that the life of the common man is as precious as that of a political personage. The procedures and practices of the police should become people oriented and not ‘power-protective’. The emphasis should be on crime prevention and meaningful response to threats to society.

Firstly, there should be alround realisation that the country is facing danger from terrorist and extremist elements and these could be neutralised only with the cooperation of the public. We should also understand that it is next to impossible to get accurate intelligence in advance of the plans of these elements and the counter measures should be pro-active and all encompassing. Thirdly an holistic approach to be adopted in tackling these problems and piece meal and sectarian approach will be counter-productive. Lastly, all out efforts should be made to utilise the existing resources skillfully and intelligently to derive the maximum benefit.

Crime prevention - which includes order maintenance-depends on proactive strategies of visibility and apprehension. One does not see police patrols in Residential Colonies, Railway Stations, Markets, Air Ports and such places where people gather in larger numbers. Presence of police at these places serve the twin purpose of Deterrence to mischief monger and assurance to the citizen. Further, the affected citizen can seek immediate redressal. This time tested, old strategy of visibility should be readopted by police organisations. Police should be seen moving around, round the clock.

Prompt apprehension of wrong doers has a salutary effect on wrong doers and has a great deterrent effect. For this, we have to revamp the Emergency Response Teams in urban areas. While almost all Towns are boasting of a Police Control Room setup, it is seen that in emergencies the response is sluggish and police arrive too late. Most of the vehicles used in the Police Control Rooms are inappropriate for quick and speedy movement and the quality of personnel is sub-standard. While they may reach a trouble spot, they have neither the expertise nor the equipment to tackle emergency situations.

To release the required resources for normal police work, one has to take a critical look at the VIP Security setup of the police. Enormous manpower and resources are wasted in the name of VIP security. On an average, a protected person of ordinary category costs the exchequer over Rs.5.0 lakhs per annum and a person in higher category including ‘Z’ category anywhere upto Rs.50.00 lakhs per year. Practically everyone, who is somebody in the political firmament, gets protection arrangement. In Delhi alone over 6000 police personnel are used in static guard duties at the residences of protected persons. They are capable of taking action only when a mischief monger comes upto the residence of the protected person. Till he reaches there, there is no check on him! In practical terms, the utility of this static guard is highly doubtful. Imagine releasing these 6000 police men for general police work. Public will have nearly 1500 policemen patrolling the streets of Delhi round the clock. Presence of this large force moving in the city will also automatically upgrade the quality of security environment. It is time, that the authorities concerned with VIP protection duties switch over to the concept of ‘Area security’ from ‘Individual security’.

We need really high level of security for the Head of the State and Head of the Government, since any mishap falling on them will have national and international repercussions. In respect of others, we should have the courage to scale down arrangements and utilise the resources released for the safety of the general public.

The need to involve the general public in order maintenance and crime prevention can not be over emphasised. Ideal Western models of Community Policing will not work in India due to general lack of awareness and civic sense. To start with, the State should enthuse citizens to organise their own crime prevention and order maintenance systems in their environment and as an incentive offer them financial subsidy and other supporting assistance. For example, if the residents of a colony organises security services to prevent crime in the colony, police department should train the personnel for the watch and war in crime prevention and patrolling methods and provide the residents fifty per cent of the wages as a subsidy. Similarly at all public places like car parks, theatres, railway stations, air ports etc. efforts should be made to organise self sufficient crime prevention systems and financial subsidy should be provided.

To create an awareness about crime prevention and order maintenance selected police officers should address the people at work places, educational institutions, professional bodies etc. Practical suggestions to safeguard one’s property and life and a detailed exposition of Right of Private Defence are to be given. Liberal use of electronic media should be attempted.

In a Democracy, the most important aspect is to remove the fear of life and property from the minds of common man. it is time we paid attention to this basic need.