Police reforms

 The terrorists struck again at Mumbai in July 2011. This, to an extent, brought forth the point
that the police is yet to reach the highest levels in intelligence gathering and in dealing with
terrorism.
 Where do we need to focus the reforms?
 An external agency like the MHA can do a lot of like providing adequate finances and better
suited policies. However, things like upgrading skills and thereby performance during a crisis
can come only from within a police organisation
 Political interference
o Political interference or sloth cannot explain all the faults of a modern force
 Problem areas
o Leadership
o Training and professionalization
 There are three things that Centre can do for police reforms despite it being a state subject
o Prepare a template for nationwide standards of police training and competence,
compliance with which must be regularly assessed.
o India desperately needs world standard institutions for police tactics and
investigation to produce the core of instructors who can develop the capacity of
State police forces
o India’s higher security management must be drawn through a process that tests
aptitude for the job