Police have the right to stop you

How would you know that the policemen who have stopped your car for conducting a check are the real McCoy, and not cleverly disguised criminals with an eye on the hard-earned money in your wallet? Additional commissioner of police MR Pujar responds to readers’ queries on night patrolling, uncooperative lawmen, non-filing of cases  and imposters. Excerpts:

Rashmi thomas, Yelahanka
What should a layman do if he is stopped by a police officer at night?
When a person is stopped at night by a beat police officer, they have the right to enquire about him. They can ask for their name, their police station, identification number and ID card. All constables and head constables have identification numbers etched on the left side of their hats. The officer’s name is displayed prominently on his uniform.

Anand Rao, Mico Layout
But what should be done if the police officer refuses to co-operate and, instead, subjects the public to harassment?
In many cases, police officers do have a problem giving away this kind of information to the public. However, they are required by the law to do so. If a police officer refuses to disclose his identification details and creates a nuisance, the person may call the control room at 100 and leave an oral complaint – disclosing the name of the officer and his police station. If it is a serious matter, the person may lodge a complaint with the police station concerned or inform senior officers. An inquiry will be held immediately.

T lalmalsawma, Shanthinagar
What is a police officer supposed to ask, and not ask, while he is checking motorists on the road?
Police officers on the night beat are not required to stop every single person passing that way. They may do so only if they become suspicious. Police officers usually ask motorists to disclose their names, addresses and destinations. They may even ask for driving licences to establish the person's identity. Conducting random checks is the right of every police officer, not just traffic personnel, and motorists should realise that they are for their own good. If a law-and-order police officer catches a person driving drunk, he can inform his counterparts at the jurisdictional traffic police station and get a case registered.

Sameera M, Indiranagar
How can one differentiate between an actual police officer and an impersonator?
To tell the truth, it can be quite difficult. However, you can always identify an impersonator if you are on your guard. In such cases, the public is encouraged to check out the officer's name and call the police station concerned to check if they have an officer matching the description provided. A complaint can be lodged once police cross-verify the complaint and find it to be true. However, police officers on the night beat find it quite easy to identify impersonators. It would be beneficial for the people if they don't take everything for granted and keep an eye out for imposters. Mostly, they are the ones who target women and rob them of their valuables. We have been conducting public information programmes since December, as part of the crime prevention drive. Every week, we make announcements asking the public to beware of suspicious elements. Women have been repeatedly instructed to refrain from wearing gold jewellery and walking in deserted areas. We usually conduct nakabandi only during amavas (new moon) nights, which goes on for five days. Otherwise, we conduct them in the event of specific occurrences, such as terror alerts. So, if ‘policemen’ are found doing it on other occasions, the public can safely assume that they are impersonators.

BS Gowda, GM Palya
How are night-beat police officers monitored? Do they patrol all
interior areas?
Nowadays, we do it through the e-beat system – which is certainly more efficient. While most police stations have at least eight beats, some have 10. Each police officer is required to be on the beat for at least six to 12 months, so they become familiar with the area's demography as well as its inhabitants. During the beat police's role call at 8.30 pm, they are sent to patrol sensitive areas. The beat police officer has to go to that point and make an entry by pressing a button on an automated instrument installed at certain locations. If they don’t do that, the control room and the police station concerned come to know that the officer hasn't visited the area during his beat. Earlier, the beat police officer used to enter the information manually, making it difficult for his superiors to check if he had actually been at the location specified. Things have become much easier since the system was computerised. Also, the beat officer is required to interact with prominent people in the area and get their signatures entered in a book at their disposal. After the work is done, the officer concerned has to submit a report on his beat.

Sanjay Hiremath, Kammanahalli
What can the public do if the police refuse to register cases?
We have introduced a new FIR cell system with accordance to a directive issued by the deputy general of police (DGP) two months ago. The cell, housed in the DGP or superintendent of police's (SP) office, takes action if a particular station refuses to accept complaints from the public. At first, the cell will direct the police station to register the complaint. If the DCP or SP is not in office, two police sub-inspectors stationed there will accept it, and depending on the seriousness of the case, give an acknowledgement. The DCP or SP will direct the jurisdictional police to investigate the case later. If the police officers concerned continue to ignore the public's demands, an inquiry will be launched against them. Every cognisable offence has to be registered, even if it is a simple case of chain-snatching. However, complainants should understand that the police can't take any action in the absence of criminal intimidation.

Sarah Jose, Cooke Town
A few police stations have CCTV cameras, which record instances of police officers interacting with the public. Is that being monitored? How long will it take before this system is extended to all police stations?
CCTV cameras have been installed at a few police stations in the west division. However, they are not being monitored because you cannot always depend on technology. It is essential that police officers understand that they are civil servants. Though the plan can be extended to other police stations, it is not topping our list of priorities right now