The Delhi Police has recently launched the ‘Police Mitra Scheme’ for the south-western police range of Delhi comprising the west district and south-west district. As part of the scheme, 284 civilians including 49 women (who have a “good social record”) have been selected for appointments by various Resident Welfare Associations. These ‘Special Police Officers’ (SPOs) belong to various professional backgrounds: there are farmers, homemakers, self-employed individuals, jhuggi dwellers, social workers, retired officials, students, advocates and former army men.
These civilian officers are required to assist the Delhi Police in the prevention and detection of crimes, drug addiction, maintenance of law and order and communal harmony.
Bridging the Gap
While the scheme has been inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision to bridge the “gap between the police and the citizens”, the key question that emerges is why has the need for such a scheme arisen in the national capital? Is it because the police, who are responsible for maintaining law and order in the State have failed to efficiently perform their duties?
In the past, Delhi had provision for SPOs with similar functions. However, it was scrapped due to corruption and misuse of power by the then SPOs. Therefore, more than the reintroduction of the scheme, it is important to understand the gaps and the inefficiencies of the Delhi Police in their abilities to perform their duties. Once these gaps have been identified, they need to be addressed. Building a ‘civilian force’ in this manner is not the solution.
In July, 2011, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre not to use SPOs in the internal security to fight against the Naxalites. The Centre told the Supreme Court that the SPOs played a significant role, not just in anti-naxal operations but also against militants in Jammu and Kashmir and the north-eastern states. Further, in September this year, an additional 10,000 SPO posts had been approved for Jammu and Kashmir by the Ministry of Home Affairs. This decision was taken in response to the large turnout of the youth in Jammu & Kashmir for SPO jobs, according to the Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Extrajudicial Force
Since there is no presence of naxalites or militants in Delhi, one fails to understand the inspiration behind Delhi Police’s initiative of ‘Police Mitra’. Further, after the selection, the SPOs will undergo an interactive session at the local police stations where they will be posted and briefed about their duties. Those doing a commendable job in different aspects of policing will be "rewarded" by local officers. Moreover, some police officers will be given an additional responsibility to monitor the activities and the performance of these SPOs on a daily basis.
Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner of Police would be required to carry out weekly reviews. This will only generate additional duties and pressure for the police personnel. Instead of carrying out their designated duties, the police personnel will be monitoring SPOs, who are supposed to assist the Delhi Police. Then what purpose will the SPOs serve?
Given their charter, and since these SPOs will be recommended by the Resident Welfare Associations, this may lead to the creation of an ‘un-uniformed force’ that will exist within the community and could well be misused for surveillance and gathering intelligence on minorities and traditionally marginalised communities, including LGBTs. This could result in further intensifying mistrust, especially as far as these communities are concerned. Hence, the ‘Police Mitra Scheme’ in Delhi is extremely problematic, and it is not clear as to what purpose they will serve.
(The writer is Research Assistant to Legislators at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, Delhi. This is a personal blog and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)
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