ABSTRACT

The Indian democracy operating amidst radical cultural, religious and social diversity as a shining monument of stability demonstrates its success as efficacious law enforcement agencies. The police force stands as weapon for the state in its advent to preserve social order, and it is incontestable that effective policing is impossible without the confidence and respect of the public. It is therefore imperative to study the community perception of law enforcement agencies in zooming the police force. Community perspectives about police reflect the degree of confidence of the public towards the police. When the community perspective about police is positive, there are voluntary compliances to the prevalent laws, and vice versa if the perspective is negative. It is contentious whether the police force in India has triumphed to come out of its repressive British policing culture and come up with policing through public consent and cooperation. Arbitrary arrests, detention, torture and extrajudicial killings have blotted the image of police and have led to an unparalleled level of public distrust. An accountable police force that respects human dignity and individual privacy above all is the model of democratic policing. Only from this height can the police discharge its sacred duty of law enforcement. To restore the faith of the society in police, it is high time that potential steps to diminish the social gap between police and public be employed. This chapter dissects police-community relations and delves into the possibility and practicability of revolutionizing community perspectives about police.