‘Behave yourself’, police start telling themselves
| Date :17-May-2019 |
Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay
By Vikas Vaidya:
Steps must to bring about changes in policemen, says Dr Upadhyay
There are some places like police stations, hospitals, courts where common man wishes never to visit. But talking aboutPolice Stations in Nagpur, one must visit any one of them once. One would come across a poster right at the entrance on which a photo of two police constables -- male and female talking to a complainant with a smile -- with some instructions for police personnel about how to talk with the visitors. Police personnel in Nagpur have started telling themselves ‘Behave yourself’. That the Police Stations are becoming smarter, is one physical change, but more important is the change in their behaviour with public Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay, Commissioner of Police, who himself is known more as philanthropist and academician is as hard as nails for bad people and as soft as butter for the good ones. When he was Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), he tried to convert criminals into a normal human beings by providing them self-employment opportunities through public participation. Now in a different role in the city, he is trying to bring changes in the attitude of police personnel as he himself feels the cops fall short in their behaviour with members of public.
This picture in Dhantoli Police station speaks volumes. (Pics by Satish Raut)
“Communication is very important. How you communicate with people offers an impression of your personality. Communication either breaks or makes the relations. We have always seen relations never get to normal once broken. Police is a very important component of public life. If their communication with the public is not proper, then daily clashes would take place. Criminals should be treated with tough behaviour, and the common people with a sense of accord. I am focusing on this particular aspect,” said Dr Upadhyay, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. Police Station is the face of establishment. The Police chowki is the operational part but Police Station does register complaints, lodges FIR where cops interact with the public. Police image gets reflected either through the Traffic cop or the man who writes complaints in the Police Station. This is the place, thus, to kinow whether the cops work properly or not. “Desired behaviour is lacking. After joining, I have initiated the posters where guidelines for police are written, to be put on display in Police Stations.
Like we welcome our guests in our homes, ask them politely to sit down, offer them water or tea, the cops also should do the same with the public. People come with so many problems. Some are divyangs, some are women. I chalked seven points for behaving with the complainants. They include ‘welcome with smile’, ‘offer a seat and water’, ‘listen to them carefully’, ‘if their work is not related to your Police Station then guide them about where to go’, ‘documents’, ‘establishing trust’, ‘say thanks to them’. “Similarly, I have asked Traffic cops to address the traffic rule violators with ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’ and talk politely, tell them that they had broken the rule. If they get angry and start arguing, let them go but not before registering their details, but never create a scene on the road. I am aware that many times public also provokes the cops but my cop should not get perturbed.
Effect of my initiative is visible in Police Station as well as on roads. Earlier, quarrels used to take place. Incidents of beating have become passe now. The issue is related to behaviour so it would take some time,” assured Dr Upadhyay. Dr Upadhyay is planning to test whether police are behaving properly or not. If they are found to be not behaving properly, then they would be warned and those following the guidelines would be rewarded. He has also initiated soft skills training for the police personnel. Operational efficiency and public communication are important and integral parts of the police force. How does Dr Upadhyay look at it? “There are 90% constables and 10% officers. Ninety percent people always come in contact with constables. So their behaviour is very important. I started ‘Cop of the month’ and ‘Traffic cop of the month’ initiatives. I am doing it at every monthly meeting, where we felicitate 10 to 12 constables whose behaviour is good.
On January 26, we invited 50 policepersons who did good work with their families, at a small function at the Police Gymkhana. There, we offered them food and gave them gifts. Constables are always neglected. Many times because of their hard work, crimes are detected but senior officers get the credit. But it was different scenario on January 26,” pointed out Dr Upadhyay. Whether Dr Upadhyay suggested this initiative to top cop of State? “In a recent meeting, I suggested Nagpur model and everybody accepted. Maximum people complain to us against police for their bad behaviour. I want this picture to be changed,” asserted Dr Upadhyay.
Dr Upadhyay is among 20 top cops in State. So how does he assess himself? He smiles and says, “I consider myself a successful police officer in terms of earning trust. Common ma. Another person also comes in to remind that when I was in Traffic Branch and did something good for him. I was Inspector General of Police (Establishment) where I looked after the transfers of policepersons. Many people come to me and remind me how I helped them in getting them posted at their desired places because of their problems. And frankly, I don’t even remember whom I helped?”