THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Prescribing an overhaul of the behaviour and attitude of police personnel, state police chief T.P. Senkumar has directed the cops not to address the public disrespectfully like eda or poda.
Using derogatory and harsh words at the public, abusing or neglecting ordinary persons who seek police service, asking unnecessary queries to the public, holding up vehicles for a long time for checking, summoning women and senior citizens to police stations against norms and inordinate delay in even silly matters are affecting the image of the police.
Apart from avoiding these, police personnel should also thank the members of the public who extend any favour to the police and tell sorry to the inconvenience caused to anyone by the police by any action. Such gestures would help in eliminating the fear and aversion among the people towards the police, said a circular issued by Mr Senkumar.
He also directed senior officers to monitor the behaviour of their subordinates, take corrective action and even conduct training sessions in this reg-ard. Complaints agai-nst police personnel in these regards would be considered seriously, he said.
According to the circular, incidents of police personnel addressing the common man as eda and poda and making derogatory remarks were inviting the wrath of the public against the police.
The tendency of police officials to inquire into unnecessary matters from those turning up at police stations, police officers having no jurisdiction of a case seeking information from those involved in that case and denying chances to the common man to meet any senior officer are creating an impression that the police have to be bribed for anything. This could be changed only if the cops avoid such unwelcome attitudes, he said.
