Over 70% of police back immunity for using force, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Over 70% of police personnel surveyed in the Status of Policing in India Report 2025 believe they should have immunity for using force without fear of punishment.
• The report, based on a survey of 8,276 police personnel across 17 States and UTs, also found that 69% support arresting and detaining suspected criminals without court investigation.
• More than half (55%) of respondents considered it important for police to use "tough methods" to instill fear among the public.
• Only 41% of police personnel stated that statutory arrest procedures are always followed, indicating a significant gap in adherence to due process.
• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on civilian injuries during police operations is noted as inconsistent and potentially underreported, contrasting with other reports and widely known incidents.

Detailed Insights:

• The findings of the Status of Policing in India Report 2025 highlight a misalignment between institutional attitudes within the police force and established legal frameworks and human rights guidelines.
• The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) permits the use of force to disperse unlawful assemblies only after an order to disperse is disobeyed.
• The National Human Rights Commission’s Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers mandates that officers prioritize persuasion and warnings, using minimum force only when absolutely unavoidable.
• The survey revealed that nearly half (48%) of police personnel believe more preventive arrests of "anti-social elements" would be highly effective in reducing crime.
• Discrepancies in official data are evident, with the NCRB reporting significantly lower numbers of civilian injuries during protests like those against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the 'Dilli Chalo' farmers' protests, compared to other sources.
• The report suggests a need for greater sensitization of police personnel regarding the appropriate use of force and adherence to due process.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS): A new criminal procedure code that replaced the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, outlining procedures for arrest, prosecution, and bail, including provisions for the use of force.
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): A statutory body established to protect and promote human rights in India, issuing guidelines for police conduct, including the proportional and necessary use of force.
• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB): An Indian government agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs responsible for collecting, compiling, and analyzing crime data from states and union territories.