For a polite police
Soft skills ought to become an integral part of training of the police force, says Shradha Kaul

In ancient Greece the term police referred to a person who was “guarding a city”, which was a derivative of “I save, I keep”. So, why does the thought of a brush with the police fill one up with dread today? It’s not just at the thought of breaking the law; it’s also at the thought of the kind of treatment which one is going to get at the hands of the police. Ironically, the caretaker is perceived as a potential threat, an aggressor instead of protector. “I’ve always had a natural fear of the police, or abuse of their power,” says an American actor. Another one claims, “Police are not all bad guys. Nobody is all bad guys.” What message do these apprehensions convey? It’s certainly not a very reassuring state of affairs and something definitely needs to done about it.

“India must be one of the few democratic countries where citizens do not trust the police, an important administrative organ of their elected Government, and feel intimidated by them,” says a report. The chief reason for this sorry image of the police is its lack of transparency. However, many of us are not aware of the economic, structural and social hardships faced by the police personnel. The solution, I feel lies in the introduction of modern methods of training which are been consistently used in corporate sectors. The need of the hour is to focus on the much-desired people management skills or ‘soft skills’ for our police force. The norm of any behavioural training requires developing certain key areas of the individuals that help them in carrying out their activities in a better manner. Therefore, it is broadly a combination of interpersonal skills, social interactions, team spirit, etiquettes, negotiation skills and attitude.

It’s never too late to start. Some Indian states have taken the lead and have initiated soft skills training for their police force. There have been reports that Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Agra, Jaipur and Karnataka have begun soft skills programmes, wherein the policemen will be taught communication skills, team building, time management, leadership qualities, stress management, conflict management, interpersonal communication and negotiating skills. According to reports, the, Malaysian police personnel in Kuala Lumpur will undertake soft skills training to enhance their presentation and dealings with the people. This was part of the plan by the Government to introduce a new culture of performance in the force, quite like the situation prevailing in India.

Ideally, soft skills for the police should be incorporated at the induction level itself. Once the candidates get used to a certain way of positioning themselves, it becomes difficult to change. Taking a leaf from the corporate world, a short training should be devoted to familiarise all the personnel (new and old) with the importance and nuances of soft skills. The programme should be a 6-7-step ladder towards achieving the goal. The most valued soft-skills are:

Positive attitude: The foremost feature that comes to mind is attitude. We must stop the policeperson from thinking that he is extremely powerful. Instead the focus should be on being helpful and polite.

Communication skills: Another important trait is the ability to communicate softly with people. The ability to direct effectively while maintaining a pleasant work
environment is also crucial.

Decision making: The ability to take impromptu and at the same time well-thought-of decisions during crises is the hallmark of any good policeperson.

Delivering services: The willingness to serve others in a reliable, wholehearted and attentive method is a key skill for persons whose work involves dealing with people all the time.

Collaboration: The ability to be friendly and work with others in groups, not only getting along with co-workers but also the ability to integrate one’s role in a team.

Encourage/ train others: The ability to teach work- related-skills to subordinates or new employees and communicate new information ensuring the message gets through is vital. Keeping a high morale is very important for the team as well as the individual.

To read in print format subscribe to the magazine Download Subscription Form