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Issues of Police Organisations

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Various expert bodies, committees and commissions have examined issues with state police organisation and functioning over the last few decades.

The State Police force is responsible for the enforcement of laws and maintaining law and order in the respective states. But incidences of misuse of power have been observed every quarter.
For example: Complaints like unwarranted arrests, unlawful searches, torture, and custodial rapes are made against the police.
The 2nd ARC has noted that this control has been abused in the past by the political executive to unduly influence police personnel and have them serve personal or political interests.

Currently, there are a significant number of vacancies in the state police and the central police forces.
As of 2016, the total sanctioned strength of state police forces across India was 22,80,691, but there is 24% vacancy in state police forces and 7% vacancy in central police forces.
In India, the sanctioned strength is 181 police per lakh persons, but after adjusting for vacancies, the actual police strength is only 137 police per lakh persons. The UN recommended standard is 222 police per lakh persons.
Therefore, this is leading to a high workload and long working hours, which negatively affects his efficiency in the enforcement of laws and maintaining law and order in the respective states.
But incidences of misuse of power have been observed every quarter. For example: Complaints like unwarranted arrests, unlawful searches, torture, and custodial rapes are made against the police.

The investigation of crime requires special skills and training along with special resources like forensic capabilities and infrastructure.
The 2nd ARC and Law Commission have observed that state police officers often neglect this responsibility as they are understaffed and overburdened with various kinds of work.
Further, lack of training and expertise hinders professional investigations.

Both centres and states are contributing toward police force modernisation.
But there is a persistent trend of underutilization of these funds. Ex: In 2015- 16, centres and states allocated Rs 9,203 crore for modernisation, but only 14% of it was actually spent.

As per the CAG audits, there are shortages in weaponry among state police forces. Ex: The state police in West Bengal and Rajasthan had weaponry shortages of 71% and 75%, respectively.
The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) has also noted a 30.5% shortage in stock of required vehicles with the state forces.