According to a news report the country’s Police Service tops the list of complaints received by the Bribery Commission during the past six months. The report states that the Bribery Commission had received 1405 complaints from January to the end of June and among those against whom complaints had been received are individuals from 14 State institutions with the Police heading the list.
Of course, the Police have earned notoriety for some time now for being associated with bribery and corruption and the latest revelation is nothing to be wondered at. In fact, it was only recently that Public Security Minister Tiran Alles spoke of examining the bank accounts of certain top brass in the Police Service following the revelation that they had been closely associated with drug kingpins. In fact, four top sleuths of the Police Narcotics Bureau were taken into custody recently for having direct links with drug lords. There have also been accusations that the Police are deliberately playing down charges against suspects taken before Courts for drug-related offences so that they may escape punishment, in return for financial considerations. Of course, the Police, more than any other State institution,are presented with the opportunity to engage in bribery and corruption. Particularly, the Traffic Police have gained notoriety in this respect. In fact, a traffic cop was recently caught on CCTV accepting a bribe from a motorist as shown on TV. Next in the line are the Police officers who take a ‘something’ from illegal hooch distillers. Is it any wonder that the Kassippu business is flourishing despite continuous raids that are reportedly being conducted by the Police? There are also bribes taken by the men in khaki for not preferring charges against offenders.
Bribe taking by Police from drug dealers serving prison sentences is also very well known. In fact, there is no area in relation to Police work where the opportunity does not present itself for bribery. In fact, it will not be an exaggeration to say that the Police Service is one State organ where bribery is being institutionalised. Of course, there are honest and dedicated officers who are above board and cannot be bought over. But they are sadly in the minority. It could be that poor pay has driven the Police to resort to bribery. The risk involved in the job too may be justification for some cops to take bribes. Is it any wonder that the law and order situation has deteriorated to such an extent what with the guardians of the law encouraging lawbreakers by resorting to bribery?
Minister Alles who has pledged to reform and upgrade the Police Service should take a serious view of the rampant bribery in the Police Service which is one of the reasons for the breakdown in the law and order situation. He should get rid of all the bad eggs and cleanse the Police Service of this cancer. In fact, during the war years recruitment to the Police, as with the armed forces, was done dispensing with the required procedure and criteria due to the manpower shortage and exigencies of service. This allowed the misfits and undesirables to enter the Police. The indiscipline, bribery and corruption in the Service may be a direct result of this. Hence the need for transforming the Police to its glory days when the khaki uniform inspired awe and respect among the general public. The Police, as it is constituted at present, has failed to win public confidence, let alone respect. It has also failed to evoke fear and awe not only among wrongdoers but also among the ordinary public. The confrontational attitude displayed towards Police officers by parties in protests and demonstrations bears this out in ample measure. Such a scenario was unthinkable in the past where the khaki uniform was a symbol of authority. The bad name acquired by the Police through its various misdemeanours is a reason for the public losing all respect towards the Police. The politicization of the Police force also has gone on to sully its reputation in the eyes of the public. This was attested by none other than IGP Chandana Wickremaratne who claimed that the reason for Police inaction to stop the mayhem in May last year was due to the fact that all OICs in the provinces were appointed on the recommendation of politicians in the area and as such did not know how to cope with the situation. It is time therefore that Police Service undergo a thorough overhaul. It should be rebranded and made to fit into the present-day demands in the area of law and order. Its officers should be provided with special training to deal with present-day crime which has taken on new dimensions with the drug element entering the scene. All good officers should be adequately rewarded and granted special incentives. Shirkers and misfits should be shown the door. Merit should be the sole criterion for promotion and upgrading. No politician should be allowed to interfere with Police business. The Police Service should be given a whole new facelift so that it would once again win the confidence of the public and take it back to its glory days.
