Corruption in Policing: Inputs on Solutions
We will be sharing this whitepaper with CVC, Ministry of Home Affairs, and State Chief Ministers so actions can be taken.
Transparency Intl India
Corruption in Police: Key Root Causes
1. Police forces lack sensitivity
2. There is no transparency in the working of police
3. People don’t complain about police corruption as they are scared of them
4. There is not enough awareness in citizens, when it comes to dealing with the police
5. The initial thought of a citizen is to agree with whatever the police man says
6. There is major politicians influence on the working of the police department
7. Vigilance over traffic police is weak
8. FIR is not filed by the stations to reduce accountability
9. Police officers have a lot of authority is vested in them
10. The department is still not modernized
11. The staff is not trained enough to use technology
12. No reviews of physical fitness required once you get the job
13. The department is still comfortable with doing paperwork instead of using computers
14. Many traffic policemen are lazy; they just stand in the shade and are indifferent to traffic violations taking place right in front of them
15. There is no career path of a police man in lower ranks. So no motivation to work hard and rise up like private sector or even public sector
16. Many police men recruited either have political connection or pay huge bribe. Hence they try to recover their investment by taking bribes
17. Lack of adequate training to police force
18. There is no effective grievances redressal mechanism in a time bound and independent manner
19. The passport application could be rejected based on the police verification – the police officer verifying takes undue advantage of this fact and asks for bribes.
Corruption in Police: Key Issues
1. Road side vendors pay a daily amount to police
2. Shared taxis give money to the traffic police
3. Traffic police asks for a bribe to let go of challans
4. Officers at the police station ask for money to verify documents for licensing
5. The lower level police staff demands money to file FIR
6. Police takes bribes to dismiss complaints against you
7. Police extorts money both from the accused and the complainant
8. Police constables demand money for passport verification
9. Almost all heavy vehicles passing through the city need to pay bribes
10. Some policemen accept bribes for ignoring land encroachment
11. Police ask people to pay them some token money to let the construction go on without hindrance
12. Road accidents are settled outside the law by bribing the investigating officer
13. Citizens collude with Police with bribes to get insurance/bigger insurance claims
14. Bribe is demanded when in any revenue case court orders for giving possession of land to the person not holding actual possession of land in question
15. Traffic police intentionally targets outstation vehicles, finds issues and asks for bribes to not challan them
16. Buses and trucks are parked on the roads at night causing major hazard but presumably under police patronage
17. Police has a nexus with liquor and mining mafia
18. Overloaded commercial vehicles are ignored by traffic police officers for a fee. more