Community-Oriented Policing: Political, Institutional and Technical Reforms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police

Abstract

Community - police relations in Pakistan are often intricate , as are their reforms . Mistrust , political intervention , meager financial resources , lack of educated / trained human resources , over - expectations and miscommunication are some of the factors contributing to weak policing and poor community - police relations . The police as a service - oriented public institution has been a demand of the public and the dream of consecutive governments . In this study , we explore the political , institutional and technical reforms taken by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ( KP ) and the police department to improve their police and policing . The Police Act 2017 and Community - Oriented Policing , Dispute Resolution Councils ( DRCs ), and Information and Communications Technology ( ICT ) initiatives are critically analyzed in terms of their intentions and contribution to improved police - community relations . Politicians , police , civil society organizations and community members from KP were interviewed for their perceptions of police reforms and community - police relations . The study finds strong political will to empower and depoliticize police , and to shift its focus from purely crime fighting into community service provision , including pro-active engagement of police with the community . The study also finds that most of the new initiatives of the government of KP are in the spirit of community -- oriented policing , and community members see visible improvement in policing and community - police relations .