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Police actions louder than words

27 Apr 2022

It was reported this week that the relevant authorities have been instructed to expedite the implementation of a special welfare programme for Police officers and to take immediate action to address issues pertaining to their allowances and facilities. At the same time, newly appointed Public Security Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, who issued the aforesaid instructions, had also remarked on the importance and necessity of making the Police force a people-friendly institution, while also acknowledging that there are various concerns about the people-friendliness of the Police. He had also stated that Police officers should only act in accordance with the powers vested in them by the Police Ordinance and per Police orders, and that under no circumstances should those powers be violated. The Minister made these statements in a context where the Sri Lanka Police has come under fire over how it dealt with protestors during the ongoing spate of protests. There are serious allegations against the Police force with regard to the excessive use of power, unlawful actions aimed at curbing protests, and acting in an intimidating manner during protests. It is also the Police force that has been accused of exercising powers in a manner that caused the death of a man during a protest in Rambukkana, which is the first, and fortunately so far the only, death reported during the ongoing protests. However, there are plenty of other allegations against the Police force for acting in an unlawful manner during protests, especially when it comes to instituting legal action against those arrested during these protests. These are merely recent incidents that have corroded public trust and confidence in the Police force, and during the past few decades, Sri Lankans have witnessed Police officers engaging in unlawful or inhumane behaviour on many occasions. In such a context, restoring public trust and confidence is going to be a difficult task, although it is an extremely timely need. The necessary changes to the Police force highlighted by Ranatunga, especially pertaining to its image and conduct, have been highlighted by rights activists for many years. However, despite promises by Ministers formerly in charge of the Police force, and even legal action taken by activists, the question remains as to how much has changed. Even when it comes to the most basic roles of the Police force, such as protecting and serving the people and maintaining public order, we cannot say that the people are completely satisfied with how Police officers exercise their power. In addition to this, the changes the Minister wants to make, although admirable given the intentions he has mentioned, lack a crucial element of this discussion – the importance of addressing the root causes that have affected public trust in the Police force. The Minister’s statement shows that he is concerned about how the Police are perceived in the society, but not what led to that situation. Until and unless the Minister looks into how citizens are treated by the Police, it will be impossible for him to create a Police force that is approved and respected by the people. At the same time, we must acknowledge the simple fact that “the Police force” is actually the individual police officers serving in the Police, and that it is these officers’ actions that build or destroy the reputation of the Police Department. Therefore, instead of assigning a certain value to the Police force in general, what must actually be done is taking steps to ensure that police officers act responsibly and respectfully, and that they properly understand and perform their duties in a people-friendly manner. Merely because police officers’ job description, or the role of the Police Department, relates to duties for the well-being of the people, it does not automatically make the Police a respectable authority. What builds, strengthens, and maintains public trust is how those duties are discharged.


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