Police Corruption- An Overview

The acts and activities associated with corruption, as performed by the people in authority, has greatly reduced the public faith in the government, where the police department is of major concern. Police is the major wing of the government, who are authorized with the act of protecting the citizens and the states, under the laws. Hence, violating the law results in a shake of faith of the public.

It has been seen that the organizational culture of police; lack of accountability and punishment which yields illegal acts such as bribery, theft and crimes, promotes the enhancement of corruption. The fundamentals which promote the culture of corruption and results in the distrust of citizens are listed below.

- Recruitment
- Training
- Lack of Resources
- Controls and Accountability

Hence, it is conspicuous that there are several flaws in the police department, which is prevalent across various countries. This branch of government is often known for its crimes and not for their actual duties. However, since the corruption culture has been identified, progress in tackling the situation has been seen, across many countries. For instance, Brazil has passed a law, where the trial of the officers being accused of a murder will take place in the civilian court instead of the military one. Moreover, several acts have been implemented in Japan and Mexico to ensure disciplinary measures in the police department.

While highlighting the issue of corruption in Pakistan, we come across an eye opening fact that the performance of Pakistan on the corruption Perception Index abbreviated as CPI is unsatisfactory. Corruption is seen in almost every sector in various forms. However, a survey done in 2006 shows the top corrupted government institutes or agencies which include the police department, contributing around 64%, the power sector and the judiciary. These three sectors are corrupted in terms of bribery and other forms due to low salaries, lack of accountability and power.

The traffic police plays a vital role in maintain law and order, in saving the lives of people, in eliminating crime and the list goes on. But the role of these officers has been quite controversial. At one hand we can say that they have an important role in dealing with the situation of the country prevalent. Whether it is guiding the traffic in a heavy rain, or checking tinted cars and motorbikes, they work for the safety of the masses. Apparently, they are seen working hard formulating the laws but are they really sincere to their profession and to their own country? According to some of their statements, one would obviously get a picture that despite the bad reputation to the profession, the officers are true to their work. However, this is not the case. On continuous encounters with some of these traffic policemen, the reality was relieved. Although, nothing is hidden from the citizens, these policemen were reluctant to accept that they take bribes or indulge in other criminal activities.

Analyzing the profession won’t depict a true picture. The current situation and the crime rate of the country, along with the detailed reports and studies on this profession, gives us a picture of a corrupted police department of Pakistan, which directly contradicts to the real life encounters with few traffic policemen. So is it a generalization of being corrupted implemented on all of the traffic policemen? Or is it the masses unaware of the innocent policemen? Or is it the underlying fact known to all that the police department is corrupted? These questions develop in our minds but the answers are even more contradictory.

Speeding up, going on the red light, laser headlights, tinted cars are few of the rule violations which are welcomed by the traffic policemen. In the view of many, these traffic policemen, would come from nowhere and ask for your license. Whether it is late at night, whether it is car full of boys or a bike with two dark, muscular men, or an overloaded bus or a car, these policemen need a reason to stop them. Do they stop such cases to make them learn the importance of abiding by the law, or they want some extra cash, known as ‘kharcha paani’ in common language? This question confuses the public who is adamant on the issue of bribery. They view this profession as humiliating and even if the policeman is sincere in performing his duty, he is often blamed and hence bribed.

On the other hand, they play a vital role in taking care of the hotels and foreign embassies. They stop all the suspicious people from entering the restricted areas plus they often give away their lives in the bomb blasts. At several junctions we see heavy traffic jams at especially the office hours. The traffic police are often seen missing at these busy junctions and people themselves have to manage on such occasions. Busses are often seen in the wrong lane. These are the discrepancies of the traffic police sector and such situation is rarely supervised and checked properly because of which the profession as well as the masses suffer.

Thus, the flaws in this wing of the government can be dealt with strict regulations and strategies. A check and balance system is necessary to make the police department strong. The recruitment and training is among the major strategies which should be implemented (Williams, 2002). Government rules along with better salaries and public support would help the nation get rid of the evils of corruption.