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By Rabi Raj Thapa

Whenever a ruler loses touch with the people then the result will be either exile if not assassination. Recent political events in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have clearly proven it.

Police organization is one of the major components that are why it is often referred to as the visible government on the streets and community direct. Police organizations in South Asia are the most visible, essential; mostly used and abused component of law enforcement and criminal justice administration. Still, it is one of the most controversial and misunderstood organizations in the South Asian sub-continent.

While looking at police personnel in Uniform, people see the police as a person, an organization and a coercive instrument of the government in action. That is why it provides a sense of relief to some, fear of coercion and rescue and support in need to others. But if it is forced to do so for personal gain or to serve the partisan selfish interest, then it will lose people’s respect and diminish its credibility. That is what is happening in Nepal too.

The problem with Nepali police oversees bodies like the ministry and political master’s. Police administrations have been a riddle in post-colonial independent countries and underdeveloped and developing countries like Nepal. Since its establishment in Nepal in 1955, law enforcement agencies like the Nepal Police have more often become the scapegoat and whipping boy for all ambitions, wrong decisions and mistakes of their political masters like any other country in South Asia.  However, police duty is too simple, transparent and useful if it is allowed to work professionally and without too much interference from outside the organization. Command and Control means command and control from within the organization, not from outside the organization, from whoever or whatever it may be.

For this, the first lesson must start with the organization’s head and its personnel. The first question is the understanding abidance of the Code of Conduct of any law enforcement personnel whatever organization she or he represents.  For this, there have been many model police officers in the world who held the record of leading their law enforcement organizations with admirable professionalism and efficiency. One thing in common among all these law enforcement leaders was they religiously followed some points which they coined the Code of Ethics for a Law Enforcement Officer. Down below are some excerpts from the Code of Ethics that read:  

–          Law enforcement personnel accept the fundamental duty to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence and disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.

–          Law Enforcement personnel will never permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities, or friendships or influence decisions with no compromise for crime…enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice and ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accept gratitude.

–          Law enforcement personnel will recognize the badge of office as a symbol of public faith, uphold public- trust and be true and loyal to the office of police service.

–          Law Enforcement personnel will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery and always condone such acts by others.

–          Law Enforcement personnel will cooperate with all other legally authorized agencies and their representation in the pursuits of justice.

–          Law Enforcement knows that she/he alone is responsible for her/his standard of professional performance and takes every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve the level of knowledge and competence.

–          Law Enforcement will strive constantly to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating herself/himself before God to one’s serve her/his chosen profession, i.e. LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Having served the police profession for 32 years and striving to improve professional professionalism in Nepal, it is shocking to see so many political stalwarts beating the bush in the name of restructuring the three-tier federal police system of Nepal. I hope, this will be a small tip to their genuine endeavour and hope they are sincere in their intention and purpose.