National Security: Bureau of Police Research and Development | 18 Jul 2023

What is the Context?

In the holistic concept of national security, internal security is an extremely important part of the country’s overall national security matrix. The internal security environment in India is highly complex and challenging. Despite these challenges, India has become stronger and is emerging as a global leader today. The evolution of the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) over the last 50 years is testimony to the success of the organisation, striving to fulfil the objective of professionalising the Indian police, to serve the citizens, diligently.

What is BPR&D?

Evolution

• The BPR&D was formed in 1970 and replaced the Police Research Advisory Council which was formed in 1966.
• It was established with the aim to identify the needs and requirements of the police in the country, take up research projects and come up with suggestions to overcome the challenges faced by the police.
• It comes under the administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The emphasis of the government is to have a modern effective and sensitive security architecture that can inspire a sense of safety among all sections of society.
• The Bureau was initially started with 2 divisions: Research, Publication & Statistics Division & Development Division.
  • In 1973 the Training Division was added on the recommendation of the Gore committee (1971) on police training.
  • In 1995 the correctional division was started to study the issues of prisons and prison reforms.
  • In 2008 the National Police mission was added, and the Development Division was restructured as a modernisation division.
• There are five divisions of the bureau headquarters and five central detective training institutes at Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Ghaziabad, Jaipur, and the Central Academy of Police training at Bhopal.
• In December 2022, the union home minister laid the foundation stone of the newest Central Detective Training Institute (CDTI) in Bengaluru.
  • Two additional CDTIs are being considered for establishment—one in Srinagar and another in Agartala.

Objectives

• BPR&D analyses the general causes of crime, preventive measures and methods of improving the investigation, administrative structure and also juvenile delinquency.
• The mandate of BPR&D has provided meaningful space for all stakeholders in policing and correctional administration. The collective wisdom of the practitioners, the academia and the civil society has culminated in inputs for policy imperatives in policing and prisons.
• It provides the assistance of police research programs in States. It also takes a regular assessment of equipment used by the police forces in India and ensures that new and modified pieces of equipment are provided in the fields of arms and ammunition.

What is the Need for BPR&D?

• Evolving Landscape of National Security: Previously, the challenges primarily revolved around specific geographical regions such as Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and areas affected by left-wing extremism.
  • However, the nature of these issues has shifted to thematic concerns like cyber security and data security. Additionally, the problems have acquired a multi-dimensional character with the emergence of threats like Narco Terror and the Fourth Generation War.
• From Imperial Stabilizers to Citizen-centric Guardians of Rights: Earlier the primary function of the police was to maintain the stability of the British Empire. However, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel brought forth a new paradigm for the Indian police system after Independence.
  • Today the primary objective of the police is to serve people and protect their rights. For reforms and policing a complete transformation of mindset is essential and only a citizen-friendly responsive forward-looking and accountable police force would lead the way in positioning India in the top three global economies.
• Efficient Intelligence Network and Smart Policing: Better coordination among various Departments of the police and other Security Forces is making India's security sheet impregnable. A country that has an efficient intelligence network does not need arms and ammunition. It only needs smart police.
• Collaboration for Policy Development: The mandate of the BPR&D has created an inclusive platform for stakeholders in policing and correctional administration to contribute meaningfully.
  • The combined expertise of practitioners, academia, and civil society has resulted in valuable insights and recommendations for policy development in the areas of policing and prisons.

What is the Current Scenario of the Police Force?

• The data collected in 2021 and published in 2022 pointed out that the total sanctioned police force in the country stood at 26,88,938. While the total actual police force stood at 20,93,833.
• The strength of women in the police force is 11.75%. The percentage increase of women in the police force over the previous year was 13.40%.
• The total sanctioned strength of central armed parliamentary forces was 11,10,804 while the actual total strength was 10,21,501.
• The strength of women police in the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) was 3.98%.

What are Some of the Related initiatives?

• National:
  • The Kavach 2023 is scheduled to be held in August and was launched in February earlier this year.
    • It is a national-level hackathon to address cyber security challenges and cybercrimes in the country.
  • The Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned a Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) scheme which comprises an online cybercrime reporting portal for cases of Child Pornography/ Child Sexual Abuse Material, rape/gang rape imageries or sexually explicit content.
• Global:
  • In 2023, two conferences were organised in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs for the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) member states.
    • The CICA is an intergovernmental forum aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring peace, security, and stability in Asia.
  • A strategic partnership between the Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), the Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) Program serves as a primary provider of US government antiterrorism training and equipment to the partner nations, building capacity to investigate, detect, deter, and disrupt terrorist activities while bolstering foreign civilian law enforcement counterterrorism skills.
    • India has been associated with this program since 1995.

What are the Challenges Faced by the BPR&D?

• Limited Resources: BPR&D operates within budgetary constraints, which can limit its capacity to carry out extensive research and development activities, as well as provide adequate training and infrastructure support.
• Diverse and Dynamic Policing Landscape: Policing challenges in India are complex and ever-evolving, with diverse geographical, socio-cultural, and demographic factors. BPR&D needs to address these diverse challenges and develop solutions that cater to different regions and contexts.
• Bridging the Research-policy Gap: While BPR&D conducts research and provides recommendations, effectively translating those findings into actionable policies and practices within the police forces can be a challenge. Bridging the gap between research and policy implementation requires sustained efforts and collaboration.
• Technological Advancements: With the rapid advancement of technology, BPR&D faces the challenge of keeping pace with emerging trends such as cybercrime, digital forensics, and data analytics. It needs to continually upgrade its technological capabilities and expertise to address these evolving challenges effectively.

What can be the Way Forward?

• Increased Funding: Providing adequate financial resources to BPR&D will enable it to carry out extensive research, development, and training activities. Increased funding will facilitate the hiring of skilled researchers, upgrading infrastructure, and conducting comprehensive studies on emerging policing challenges.
• Collaboration and Partnerships: BPR&D should actively engage in partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, think tanks, international organizations, and civil society groups.
  • Such collaborations can help leverage expertise, share best practices, and promote knowledge exchange, thereby enriching the research and policy development efforts of BPR&D.
• Capacity Building and Training: BPR&D should prioritise the development of comprehensive and specialized training programs for police personnel at various ranks. These programs should address the evolving challenges in policing, including technology, community engagement, and crime prevention.

Conclusion

The police station stands as a sacred temple of justice, where citizens arrive with unwavering confidence in its power to deliver them much-needed justice. In numerous ways, it assumes the role of the highest court, providing a haven of fairness and solace for the voiceless in society. Moreover, it serves as a bastion of hope, striving to safeguard the rights and security of every individual within its jurisdiction.