eThese days we see that the cases of corruption of some officers holding high positions across the country and their involvement in sexual crimes and their involvement in protecting criminals are increasing, which is not a good sign for the country and society. After all, what is the reason that highranking personalities (not all) are bent on carrying out these heinous acts themselves instead of stopping them? In such a situation, people start ignoring the involved officer by talking negatively about him. Disobedience creates distrust towards the officer. In the police custodial interview case of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, the Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that the police officials allowed the criminal to use electronic devices and provided studiolike facilities for the interview which amounted to glorifying the crime. When officers engage in unethical conduct, the public's trust in law enforcement decreases, leading to a breakdown in trust in institutions.
Transparency International reports that police corruption is a major cause of distrust in India's public institutions. When law enforcement protects criminals, it creates a twotier justice system where the powerful escape consequences. The Vohra Committee Report (1993) revealed the nexus between criminals, politicians and the police, thereby compromising the integrity of law enforcement. Officials involved in protecting criminals contribute to denying justice to victims, perpetuating the cycle of impunity.
Recent highprofile cases in Bihar and UP have seen police involvement in protecting influential criminals and delaying justice. Such unethical behavior fosters a culture of corruption within the police force, potentially leading to institutional crime. Corruption scandals within the Mumbai Police exposed how criminals are protected for financial gain. Public knowledge of police protection to criminals increases anarchy and creates social unrest, which weakens governance.
Violent protests broke out in Uttar Pradesh after reports emerged of police protecting a local mafia group. Introducing valuebased training programs for police officers can inculcate ethical behavior and honesty in them, thereby reducing corruption. The second ARC recommends an ethics module in police training to promote professional accountability. Strengthening internal monitoring and external bodies such as the Police Complaints Authority ensures accountability for unethical behavior.
The Prakash Singh case (2006) led to police reforms, which focused on establishing independent accountability mechanisms. Ensuring whistleblower protections allows officials to report unethical behavior without fear of retribution, thereby promoting transparency. The WhistleBlower Protection Act (2014) provides safeguards for public servants who expose corruption. Imposing harsh legal penalties for officials who protect criminals acts as a deterrent, ensuring adherence to ethical standards.
In 2023, the UP Police dismissed several officers for their involvement in criminal conspiracies, indicating a zerotolerance approach. Implementing technologydriven solutions like body cams and automated surveillance can prevent police misconduct by providing realtime monitoring. States like Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are adopting body cameras to increase police accountability. Strengthening communitypolice partnerships fosters trust and allows communities to hold officers accountable for their actions.
The Janamaithri Suraksha Project in Kerala promotes better policecommunity relations, thereby reducing cases of corruption. Building ethical integrity in law enforcement requires institutional reforms, accountability mechanisms, and strong legal frameworks to prevent misconduct. A culture of ethics supported by training and community engagement is important to restore public trust and ensure justice. Depending on your level of knowledge, rationality and dedication to moral excellence.
Anything less than ideal ethical conduct can be disastrous for the department, the community, and the nation as a whole. While officers are only human and will make mistakes, ethical misconduct cannot be tolerated. To ensure ethical behavior of their officers, agencies must have three basic principles. First, they must have a policy that clarifies their ethical mission and sets standards that officers must follow.
Second, strong and ethical leadership must be present and implemented. These officers set the tone for the department and lead by example, never choosing the easy path over the ethical path. Third, agencies should ensure that they employ ethical people and deal appropriately with those who are not ethical. An ethical organization will require conscientious adherence to existing policies and standards, the ability to detect any individual or collective patterns of performance that fall short of expectations, and the courage to deal with those who are responsible for those failures.
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Image Credit: KhasKhabar.