People’s policing with empathy & enforcement need of the hour

OP SinghThe recent road accident in Kanpur, involving a high-end car, became a talking point not because of the vehicle or those involved, but because of how ordinary citizens instinctively turned to the police for help, order, and fairness.
The calm handling of bystanders, the expectation that the police would act impartially, reflected what trust in policing looks like at the grassroots. Such everyday moments, far removed from policy debates, quietly define credibility of law enforcement.For several years now, policing in UP has been closely associated with firm action against crime. Police encounters came to be seen as a symbol of the state's resolve to deal decisively with hardened criminals. For a population long troubled by serious crime, delayed investigations, and prolonged trials, this approach found public acceptance. Political leadership, too, articulated its commitment to public safety through an emphasis on strong and immediate enforcement.UP, like many large states, operates in a challenging environment. According to NCRB data, conviction rates for IPC crimes across the country generally remain in the range of 55-60%, and in serious offences the process of investigation and trial often takes years. These structural delays create frustration among citizens and place enormous pressure on the police to deliver quick results. In such circumstances, visible enforcement action acquires significance.Sustainable law-and-order depends on the strength of institutions — professional investigation, reliable evidence, effective prosecution, and public cooperation. These elements work quietly and take time, but they form the foundation of lasting security.In recent weeks, a few incidents from different districts have drawn attention to the everyday interaction between the police and citizens. Matters relating to alleged custodial deaths in Prayagraj, and a case from Ambedkarnagar where the National Human Rights Commission directed compensation to the family of a man who died in police custody, have come under judicial and statutory scrutiny.Such developments do not question the intent of the political or police leadership, nor do they diminish the state's efforts to maintain law and order. They, however, underline the importance of institutional vigilance and the need to reinforce public confidence at the cutting edge of policing.It is in this context that the idea of people's policing assumes renewed relevance.People's policing is often misunderstood as a softer or less assertive approach. In reality, it is firm, lawful, and professional policing that draws strength from public cooperation. It recognises that the police station is the first point of contact between the state and the citizen, and that everyday conduct at this level shapes public perception far more than headline-making action.People's policing means a police station that citizens can approach without hesitation, where registration of an FIR is treated as a right rather than a favour. It means a beat system that is visible and responsive, and officers who understand the social fabric of the areas they police. It also means the intelligent use of technology to improve transparency, response time, and accountability.Experience and studies show that local information remains backbone of effective crime detection. A substantial proportion of actionable intelligence comes from community sources. Such information flows only when citizens feel confident that their cooperation will be respected.The indicators that truly reflect effective policing go beyond arrests or encounters. Conviction rates, quality of investigation, timely filing of charge sheets, response to distress calls, and citizen satisfaction provide an accurate picture of institutional performance. A shift towards people's policing does not require new laws or radical restructuring. What it requires is clarity of direction and consistency of practice. Police leadership plays a critical role in setting professional standards and reinforcing lawful conduct. Officers who demonstrate sound investigation skills, restraint under pressure, and positive engagement with the public must be visibly encouraged.Political leadership, too, has a constructive role in this process. Supporting the police means standing firmly behind lawful action, investing in capacity building, and allowing institutions to function within constitutional boundaries.UP has invested significantly in police modernisation, technology, and training. The next step is to ensure that these investments translate into everyday practices that inspire confidence across social groups. Policing ultimately draws its authority not only from law but from legitimacy. While force remains a necessary tool in exceptional situations, it cannot become the defining feature of law enforcement. Public trust, once established, strengthens compliance, improves intelligence, and reduces the need for coercion.Moving from emphasis on encounters to deeper commitment to trust-based policing should not be seen as a retreat from firmness. It is a step towards durability and institutional maturity. Resetting people's policing is about aligning power with purpose, authority with accountability, and enforcement with empathy. That alignment is essential for sustaining law and order and for preserving the credibility of the police as a democratic institution.(Writer is former director general of police, Uttar Pradesh)