Why the Bangalore Police Department needs a cultural overhaul?
I have been planning to write about this since a few days now. The last time I started writing this article, I thought of adding some good things about Bangalore Police in the start of the article, but ended up writing an article on just that! You can read this here — It’s about why Bangalore Police is probably one of the most tech-savvy teams you’ll see. This time I will write exactly what is in the header!
While all of these good things mentioned in this previous article sound really good, there are some problems! I have been living in Bengaluru for a long while, yet I do not feel the same about the Police constable across the road, as I feel about the posts they put on the social media. Every few days, I come across a post like this, which really makes us feel respectful about these folks. .
But then, when we go offline, and interact with them — or come across them, they do not feel the same folks many times. Why do I say so?
- The most common example here which will connect with you all is that the cop will NEVER wear a helmet or a seat belt: It’s very rare to see police folks wear a seat belt or a helmet. Some of my experiences:
→ Recently, a large chunk of Hoysala vehicles have been inducted into the system to help the team reach points of destress calls quickly — but it’s a rare thing that you’ll ever see any of those folks in it wear a seat belt. I had even seen 1 such vehicle where the seat belt was locked behind the seat so that the vehicle wouldn’t give them that reminder.
→ Another vehicle I saw at Brigade Road junction, I had asked them “sir, seat belt?” — and they were laughing and zoomed away after the signal started.
→ Another situation : I always carry an extra helmet with me on my bike — another day, I saw a traffic cop walking down a lane. I offered him a lift, he wasn’t keen on it but accepted it graciously. But I asked him to put on the helmet and he didn’t want to. He just held it in his hand until my stop and then handed it to me.
2. Differential treatment of citizens of Bangalore. 2 instances:
→ Tinted window glasses are banned in Bangalore since a few years now. I remember heavy fines and instant removal of the black films whenever they were caught by any cop. But these days, it’s a common thing that you’ll see many vehicles going around the city with these tinted windows. Come to Central Bangalore, and you’ll see numerous Fortuners, Innovas and Ambassadors with tinted glass. Not all of these surely belong to the CM or the Governor.
If you do not have a good connection or contact amongst the ministries or officers, my friend, you’re doomed — just obey the laws! It’s all about the power, afterall!
In the same way, if you actually have ever visited a police station to file an FIR, there would be more than a single instance when you’d be recommended by the police officer to not file one and just get over the instance (because it reduces their burden). It has happened to me, and when I went back to the same place and the folks after a chat with a DCP / Commissioner, they were more than ready to help us in all possible ways.
→ Another very concerning scenario I had seen while I was crossing the Taj West End Hotel on Race Course Road. As you should be aware, beacons are no more allowed on cars now — doesn’t matter who you are in the Government. The other day, I was momentarily stopped by a cop to let a contingent of ministers (I am assuming) leave from the Taj hotel in a group of 6–7 fortuners and some other cars (all without beacons of course). Few seconds later (5–10 seconds gap), I see an ambulance exiting from the same location with heavy sirens and a beacon. I can’t say for myself if there really was a patient in it but it surely looked like something is fishy in here. I was riding a bike and couldn’t capture the ambulance details but it was from a Phoenix Ambulance Service — in case anyone’s interested in knowing. Of course if there is something fishy here, the cops know about it much before any of us. But are they doing anything about it?
→ Let us agree to a hypothesis that not all Bangaloreans can speak Kannada. Yes, even if they do not know Kannada, they might as well be Bangaloreans — if not kannadigas. There is an instant difference in the way you’re treated as soon as you start your conversation in hindi-only with a cop. I agree that these folks might not know the language that a cop might be well-versed with (or their mother tongue). But due to this, we cannot make it a disadvantage to them. I might not be able to single out instances here, but I know a lot of folks, who have been living here in Bangalore for a while now— but are shit scared about interacting with a cop because their kannada is poor.
These above mentioned are just the symptoms. What is the solution to this symptom? — Surely, just complaining is not a remedy. Here’s my take on to it.
The efforts and visions of all the top bureaucrats with regards to upgrading the processes and technology is commendable (See my previous article). But there is a lack of the right attitude / culture within the larger chunk of the group. There is a need for them to :
→ Obey policies that they inspect. Unless the cops lead the game by example, it looks very difficult as to how the spirit can be encompassed amongst the masses. Wear helmets / seat belts — not just for the sake of it, but because they can save their own lives too someday. . . This cannot be a one day or a one month turnover but might take even a couple of years to imbibe that sense of responsibility and accountability that resides within their police caps.
→ Get more freedom from the fear of their political bosses, and be more loyal to their departmental bosses. Yes, right from the top ranks to the lowest ranks, they fear transfers, no-promotions or removal from service if they do not adhere to most demands of the politicians / connected folks.
Apart from the differential treatments that this fear generates, I also feel many times that the attitude of the top bosses trickles down to the lowest ranks of police officers. If your boss obeys the law, even you might do so. But if your boss defies it, you’ll definitely defy it too.
→ Feel more accountable to the public and serve them (“public servant, are they?”). All the stories / posts (about how a cop helps one of us) making rounds on facebook and twitter that lit up our days are definitely an example of the ones who have started taking the onus.
Looking forward to a generation of . . . . . cooler cops??
