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Significance of 49th All India Police Science Congress being hosted by Uttarakhand Police

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By ANIL RATURI

Shri Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister of India, will be inaugurating the 49th All India Police Science Congress (AIPSC) at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The Governor of Uttarakhand will be closing this conference on 8th October. The AIPSC was held for the first time at Patna in 1960. Since then, the National Bureau of Police Research and Training (BPRD) has been steering this event annually. Uttarakhand Police will be hosting this important meet for the second time. It also has had the distinction of hosting the 41st AIPSC in 2011.

India is a country of continental dimensions and comprises immense diversity. In its Federal System, Police is a State Subject. Though the various State Police Forces function under the same overarching legal framework, yet each State Police often develops its own processes of policing which are dictated by the local conditions peculiar to it. The AIPSC forum brings together this varied expertise and experience of all the States and Central agencies concerned with Law Enforcement. It provides a common platform to the various State and Central Police forces along with social scientists, forensic experts, prison and correctional service administrators, relevant experts of technology and other stakeholders to deliberate on selected themes that are of topical interest. It facilitates learning amongst the participants through experience sharing and also provides a road map for future policing in the country.

In recent years, India has made rapid strides in socio[1]economic development. However, it continues to face many formidable challenges. Amongst these, elimination of poverty remains the most important one. A commendable feature of recent times has been the pan-India creation of Public Digital Infrastructure (PDI). Indians are also increasingly adopting the use of Information Technology for Services and Commerce. This is a promising development because it can provide a momentum to the economic growth and also simultaneously help in improving the quality of life of the common citizen. The flip side of this technology, however, is that it also brings with it a new kind of vulnerability in the form of cyber crimes and cyber hacking! Law Enforcement Agencies have perennially been confronting challenges posed by organised crime, drug abuse/smuggling, mob violence, terrorism, etc. Now, over and above these challenges, cyber crime and cyber security have also emerged as serious subjects for the Police. It is therefore imperative for the Police to quickly absorb the latest technology so that it is able to competently respond to all the emerging challenges.

India is rapidly trying to develop in order to realise its true potential as a nation. For this to happen, it is necessary that an atmosphere of peace and tranquility prevails in the country. Maintaining peace and order is the responsibility of the Police. The criminals are now increasingly making use of the latest technology. It is obvious that the various Police forces of the country can only outsmart such clever criminals by continuously striving to remain professionally competent.

In 2014, at the Annual DGP’s conference, the Prime Minister of India had given the concept of “SMART” Police. It expands as Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Techno Savvy and Trained! Last year, speaking at the AIPSC at Bhopal, Shri Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, said, “…the British era of Policing is over….data is new science..!” The Indian Police has its moorings in the colonial and imperial period. As a result the traditional ethos of the organisation was not in tune with an independent India. In the last few years, the Police of the country have made significant endeavours in trying to modernise itself. In this context, the imminent 49th AIPSC at Dehradun has national significance. It will bring together technology experts, top police, forensic, correctional service officials, along with their rich experience and expertise, on one forum for discussion and formulation of future approaches to be adopted by the Law Enforcement Agencies.

The six themes selected for discussion in this AIPSC are indeed very appropriate. They are the following: Combating Emerging Cyber Security Challenges – Prevention and Mitigation. Mobilisation through Social Media – Challenges for Police. Organised Crime – Menace of Drug Abuse – Effective Police Interventions.

Mob Violence – A Holistic Approach, Management of spontaneous Mob Violence, Standardisation of VIP Security Protocol Across the Country. Technology – Border Management, Geo-Technology, Big Data Analytics and Policing in 5 G Era.

Human Resource Development – Capacity Building, Gaining Confidence & Trust of the Citizen, Effective Coordination between Police and CAPFs.

Prisons – Decongestion Strategies, Alternatives to Imprisonment.

The organisers of the AIPSC have invited papers from experts on the above themes. These papers will provoke ensuing professional discourse during the conference. In the current “Amrit Kaal” of the Nation, the proposed deliberations at the 49th AIPSC can be very useful for providing the Police Forces of the country crucial inputs for future effective policy formulation.

(Anil Raturi is a retired IPS Officer)