Goa is ready to introduce a new Police Bill after 150 years. This bill is a rare opportunity to create a new kind of police to serve the people and uphold the law. 

This is the moment to transform the police from a FORCE to a SERVICE, working for the people and with them  

THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN IF WE GET INVOLVED IN DESIGNING THE PROCESS

RAISE YOUR VOICE AND BE A PART OF THE CHANGE!

Police Complaints Authority

To ensure that the people have a place to take their complaints against the police, Goa set up a State Police Complaints Authority in obedience of Supreme Court orders. The recent death of Moira resident Cipriano Fernandes in Panaji Police station shows how necessary a Complaint Authority is for stopping the police from abusing their powers. The Bill seeks to transfer the Authority’s powers to the Lokayukta. However there is no Lokayukta in the State at present. Even if the Lokayukta is created, it will have many other responsibilities and will not be able to perform the functions of the Authority effectively. This section must be amended as it will be a major step back for the state. 

People must demand an effective Police Complaints Authority!

Special Security Zones

The Police Bill sets up Special Security Zones which will include any area where crime is high or law and order is under threat. The area will be cordoned off and the police will be given additional powers severely undermining rights of citizens of that area. This means mining areas witnessing agitations, villages protesting projects such as SEZs and big corporate backed real estate projects can all be cordoned off in the name of security, giving the police special powers to tackle these protests. Such provisions are undemocratic and must not be included in the Police Bill. 

Special Police Officers

The Bill allows the DGP to appoint Special Police Officers who have the ‘same powers, privileges and immunities’ as regular officers but without the same training. This can easily deteriorate to a vigilante system, allowing non policemen to take the law into their hands. Experience from other parts of India has shown there is widespread abuse of powers and large number of public complaints against this system. This provision must be removed.

Term of Important Police Officers

Although the Police Bill provides security of two years tenure as ordered by the Supreme Court, it also states that police functionaries can be removed from their post for an ‘administrative exigency’. This is vague and ambiguous and means that any police officer can be removed from his post due to arbitrary political decisions.  This will lead to undue political interference in the work of the police and must be removed from the Bill. 

Appointment of Director General of Police

The bill does not mention how the DGP will be appointed or removed. This means that there is scope for non merit based appointment for this very important post. It also means that a DGP who is performing his duties well can be removed based on political reasons. This will affect the efficiency of the police. The new Police Bill must ensure guidelines regarding appointment and removal are specified.  

Police establishment Board

The Supreme Court ordered that the Police Establishment Board should be created to determine promotions and transfers of police officers. Transfers and promotions should be based on merit and not on the whims of politicians. This helps police officers to perform their jobs impartially. However the Police Bill dilutes the powers of the Board. The Board should be given all the powers suggested by the Supreme Court.

Power to seek information

The Bill gives the SP power to demand information regarding ‘tenants, occupant tourist or domestic help’. This can be misused to needlessly harass innocent persons of minority community or weaker sections of society. It is prejudiced and assumes that people of these categories are more likely to commit offence. This should not be included in the Bill 

Community Policing

Community policing is an important way of community participation in policing issues. This is included in the Bill and should be encouraged. However for community participation to be truly effective, the Community Liaison Groups should be selected by a Committee and not the DSP alone. This should be included in the Bill. 

Conclusion

This message is in public interest. If the public wants better policing then it must get involved because in a democracy the police are a paid service meant only for the benefit of the public

Get involved!

1) Give your suggestions to:

a. your local MLA

b. your Police Chief

c. your Home Minister

2) Participate in a seminar on the ‘Goa Police Reforms Bill’ on 29th January 2011 at Institute Piedade, Panjim at 10.00 a.m. 

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD. YOUR OPINIONS ALONE WILL BRING THE CHANGE!!

Issued by the Council for Social Justice and Peace – January 2011