Recently, Friends of Police (FOP) services have been suspended in Tamil Nadu. This action was taken in the wake of a controversy involving FOP volunteers. They were implicated in the assault of P. Jayaraj and his son J. Benicks, which resulted in their deaths in custody. FOP is a community policing initiative started in Ramanathapuram district in 1993. The purpose of this initiative is to bridge the gap between the police and the public. It seeks to promote crime awareness among citizens and facilitate crime prevention. Integrity, transparency, and impartiality are key principles promoted by the FOP in police conduct.
Community Policing: A Partnership Between Citizens and Police
At the core of the community policing concept is the belief that a police officer is essentially a citizen in uniform, just as a citizen is a de facto police officer without the uniform. Community policing is a law enforcement approach that fosters continuous police presence in a specific area to enhance the relationship between the police and residents of that area. This helps in building mutual trust, facilitating the prevention and detection of crime, maintaining order, and resolving conflicts at a local level, all aimed at improving the quality of life and the sense of safety among the community.
Examples of Community Policing in India
There are various examples of community policing across different states of India. These include the Janamaithri Suraksha Project in Kerala, Joint Patrolling Committees in Rajasthan, Meira Paibi in Manipur, Community Policing Project in West Bengal, Maithri in Andhra Pradesh, and Mohalla Committees in Maharashtra.
Issues With Friends of Police Initiative
The third Tamil Nadu Police Commission Report in 2008 raised concerns over the effectiveness and misuse of the FOP scheme. The report stated that the FOP mechanism had not been assessed by an independent entity, leading to doubt over its utility among some sections of the public. It also pointed out that some unsuitable individuals managed to register as volunteers under the FOP initiative and subsequently abused their position.
Recommendations for Improvement
In order to resolve these issues, the 2008 police report suggested modifying the FOP system into a Citizen Volunteers Scheme. The aim is to foster such a close relationship between the police and the citizens that the latter feel they are friends of the police. This would allow more than just a select few to enjoy this designation.
The Future of Community Policing
It is essential that community policing volunteers are given the opportunity to assist the police without acting in their stead. It is recommended that the criminal background of volunteers be thoroughly checked prior to their recruitment. Community policing is essentially a philosophy, not a program. Understanding this philosophy is the key to ensuring the success of the associated initiatives. One significant challenge is the need to modify existing concepts of policing and citizens accepting such changes.