Current Scenario> Problems in Police Force> Design defects in Indian Police System>                      Empowerment of police personnel

The hierarchical structure laid down in the IPA originates from the colonial structure and mindset. Hence only a few high ranking police officer have true decision making powers while the manpower is concentrated at the lowest level-constable level. This hierarchical system does not encourage, nor expects the constables to think independently or to take their own initiatives. The constables are strictly following their superiors' orders and acting merely as messenger boys. In Andhra Pradesh 88 % in the police force are ranked Head-constables or Constables, which forms a much skewed system. Even the police officers with higher ranking can feel disempowered, their decisions can be undermined either by orders of their superior, or by unwarranted political interference.

This lack of empowerment together with absence of meaningful career growth has contributed to the generally low degree of morale and decreased sense of public responsibility. Therefore this report suggests that empowerment of all police personnel is essential.

Absence of an independent oversight body

The police work today is heavily influenced by unwarranted political interference and police officers can feel compelled to use drastic methods to obtain a confession. Excessive force by police officers are sadly common and the National Police Commission stated already in 1980:                     

                "Police are frequently criticized of their use of third degree methods during

               investigations while examining suspected or accused persons"

There is also pressure on district police to keep crime statistic low. Often, this is accomplished by merely suppressing crimes, by the simple expedient of not recording complaints and registering the FIR (47% in the Transparency International India study felt compelled to bribe the police officer to ensure their FIR got recorded). This has lead to both obstruction of justice and abuse of authority, which in the best of cases get investigated by the superior officers unless they themselves are pressured. The Transparency International India concludes that the police force is found to be the most corrupt department in the public service in India. India itself was ranked 90th (of 146 countries) in the Transparency International's 2004 Corruption study.

To restore public trust in the police force, an independent oversight body should be created to investigate all allegations of police abuse. Therefore this report suggests the creation of an independent oversight body.