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http://www.insightsonindia.com/2015/12/21/insights-into-editorial-may-the-police-force-be-with-you/
2. Criminal Investigation:
The other important, but badly neglected, aspect of policing is criminal investigation. Standards have declined
sharply in the last few years. Unfortunately, the so-called premier investigation agencies like state CIDs and the
CBI are no exception.
Apart from investigations and conclusions of trials taking an abnormally long time, these tend to fall flat in
court, often attracting the judiciarys wrath. On the other hand, investigation is no longer a coveted job in
the states.
The fate of cases involving terrorism is no better. Several cases investigated by special units/ agencies
have not only ended in acquittals but also resulted in courts posing serious questions as to the veracity of
the evidence presented and the procedures adopted.
The directors general and inspectors general of police attending the conference need to discuss and debate this
situation to find urgent remedies. They also need to examine existing laws and procedures and suggest
modifications and measures for improvement.
3. Vacancies:
Central investigation agencies like the CBI, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement
Directorate continue to have huge vacancies, as officers from states are not willing to join and sister agencies are
staffed with officers from the Central armed police forces.
Even the apex courts direction to fill these posts and experiments like additional remuneration have not
yielded the desired results. This is unfortunate, and it cant be allowed to persist.
The conference may discuss whether a system whereby certain posts in the investigative wings of states
are financed by the Centre and states are obligated to depute a fixed number of officers to Central
agencies could be the way out.
These officers may revert to the states after five or six years, taking with them valuable investigative
experience.
A system of fast-track promotions based on merit determined by a limited competitive exam for
officers recruited at the sub-inspector level, who have put in a certain minimum amount of service, may be
another solution.
Even, most states have a huge number of unfilled vacancies. They tend to fill these on the eve of elections and
train personnel in facilities arranged in an ad-hoc manner.
5. Lack of Organisation:
There are no organisations to provide the police forces with tested and dependable specifications on equipment
and technology. They are generally dependent on vendors, who often sell outdated or not-so-suitable technology.
Though the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has been tasked with this
responsibility, it hasnt been able to fulfil this need.
The conference needs to discuss a mechanism, under the BPR&D and with the involvement of
organisations like the DRDO, the IITs, IISc, etc, to help decide on specifications for equipment as well as
identify and develop the latest technology to be inducted at regular intervals.
IIT Bombays effort to set up the National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security, with
assistance from the department of information technology is a right step.