Shoring up image

V.K.Chin The Star Asia News Network

The police seem to be making an effort to clean up the force, suspending and even dismissing those officers who have been involved in criminal activities or for a serious breach of discipline.

This is indeed a commendable effort to improve the force's image and the most effective way of doing this is to take such strong measures so that the officers and the public will know that it means business.

The public must appreciate this latest move as the policemen have often been criticized when performing their duty. It is never easy for any profession or service to discipline its wayward members.

Members of professional bodies have found it rather difficult and even embarrassing to take disciplinary action against their colleagues or to institute an inquiry to look into complaints forwarded by the public.

Where the police force is concerned, its members are like a close-knit family and they are expected to look after each other's welfare and interest.

However, the police top brass and the government realize that something needs to be done if they are to shore up the force's image with the public especially when some officers have been too zealous in implementing the law.

If any one of them should be found guilty of such offenses, then appropriate punishment will have to be meted out to right any wrong committed against any individual or group. Otherwise, the public will lose confidence and trust in the force and this will be bad for society as a whole.

The two groups will need to work closely together to maintain law and order as well as security and the police need public co- operation and information in their investigations to identify and prosecute those who have committed criminal offenses.

Many of the complaints against the police concern corruption and abuse of authority. Of the two, the public is more worried over the abuse of power displayed by some officers. This can be a frightening ordeal for victims who are ignorant of the law and their rights.

Those who know their rights will find it difficult to do anything when the policemen are not prepared to listen.

The police top brass should make an effort to look into each complaint as the chances are that the complainants are unlikely to make up stories as such actions may get them into real trouble with the law.

At least those in charge should make it a point to follow up on complaints appearing in the media after the complainants have suffered in the hands of policemen who believe that they can get away with any offensive behavior.

This is a good way of instilling public confidence in the force while at the same time send a message to all the policemen that they must always behave in a civilized manner when dealing with members of the public or be prepared to face the consequences.