POLICE ORDERS – 1961
Police Order No. 01 of 1961
Subject: Discussion of subjects of administrative interest, welfare of the force, etc., in the quarterly conferences.
The Inspector-General orders that the agenda of the Quarterly Conferences held by the Superintendent of Police under Regulation 124(a) of the P.R.B., 1943, should include, apart from crime matters, other subjects of administrative interest, welfare of the force, and difficulties experienced by members of the force in matters such as accommodation, payment of dues, supply of kits, facilities for medical treatment in rural areas, etc.
Officers should be encouraged to study local problems and to consult their subordinate officers in order to present a picture of the problems faced by them before the Conference. Where such problems are capable of local solution, Superintendents of Police should take prompt action to settle them. In other cases, they should bring them to the notice of the Range D.I.G., who may approach the Police Directorate, if necessary.
By order,
B.C. Mukharji
Special Officer
West Bengal Police Directorate
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Police Order No. 02 of 1961
Subject: Procedure for transfer of personnel between Central Organisations (e.g., I.B., E.B., etc.) and Ranges.
It is hereby ordered that in all cases of transfer of officers to the Central Organisations, e.g., I.B., C.I.D., E.B., Brigade, etc., from outside and vice-versa, all the D.I.G.s concerned should be invariably consulted before issuing final orders.
The same procedure will also apply in the case of inter-Range transfers.
By order,
B.C. Mukharji
Special Officer
West Bengal Police Directorate
(Cancelled vide Police Order No. 07 of 1962)
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Police Order No. 03 of 1961
Subject: Police and the Public.
Although instructions have been issued from time to time for the maintenance of the best relationship between the Police and the public, this order is being issued to serve as a constant reminder of the basic conception of police work, namely, service to the people.
It must be realized by every member of the Police Force, whatever his rank may be and wherever he may be posted, that the Police Force is a wing of the Government of the people. Its personnel are specifically selected from the people, trained at their cost, entrusted by them with duly defined powers for carrying out certain duties, and paid from the public exchequer. The Police today are an integral part of civic life and have been given the necessary facilities and powers to be able to work in a disciplined manner so as to be of real service to the people.
Policemen are citizens of the State, but in uniform. Although their duty is primarily concerned with the prevention of crime, detection of criminals, and maintenance of law and order, it extends today to rendering such other services needed by the people as are within their ability and competence.
Normally, a member of the public who comes to a policeman suffers from a sense of grievance—perhaps he has lost some property or some person, or has suffered otherwise and is in distress. He needs sympathy first and foremost. The policeman will be able to realize his predicament if he hears him out and places himself in his position. It thus becomes incumbent upon every policeman to be sympathetic and courteous in his dealings with members of the public with whom he comes in contact. Courtesy costs nothing but pays rich and enduring dividends.
Patient hearing and sympathetic, polite response are essential if real service to the people is to be rendered. It does not cost anything to use expressions such as “Sir,” “Please,” “Thank you,” “What can I do for you?” and so on, but they create a congenial atmosphere around one who uses them. If, on the other hand, a member of the public receives no sympathy but is treated with discourtesy, the policeman concerned violates the policeman’s code of conduct. Even if a policeman is unable to render any effective assistance when asked for, due to reasons beyond his control, he must remember that he has no right to be discourteous or curt in his behavior.
Good manners and a spirit of service help foster the growth of the much-desired public co-operation, while discourtesy and bad behavior act as a stumbling block against it. The Inspector-General therefore enjoins upon every policeman to imbue himself with the spirit of service to the people and points out that the policeman guilty of misbehavior with the public shall merit only disapprobation and departmental action.
This order shall be posted at prominent places in every police station, outpost, and office to remind everyone in the Police Force that it is meant to be followed in letter and spirit.
By order,
B.C. Mukharji
Special Officer
West Bengal Police Directorate
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Police Order No. 04 of 1961
Subject: Maintenance of station statistics of crime in B.P. Forms No. 71 at Police Stations and other police offices.
It has come to the notice of the Inspector-General that the station statistics of crime are not being properly maintained either at Police Stations or in other Police offices, namely, Police office, Circle Inspector’s office, etc. The study of crime statistics is a very important prerequisite for looking after crime in one’s jurisdiction, which cannot apparently be done unless the statistics are properly maintained at all times.
The attention of all officers is drawn to Rule 1111 of the Police Regulations, Volume I, 1943, where detailed instructions regarding the preparation and maintenance of statistics of crime have been laid down. The Inspector-General directs that the rule should be scrupulously followed and that superior officers, in the course of their visit and inspection of Police Stations and other offices, should ensure that the statistics are maintained as enjoined in this rule.
The attention of all inspecting officers is also particularly drawn to clause (b) of the rule, and the Inspector-General directs that the provisions therein should be rigidly observed.
By order,
B.C. Mukharji
Special Officer
West Bengal Police Directorate
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Police Order No. 05 of 1961
Subject: Consignment of Process Registers.
In supersession of Police Order No. 2 of 1960, it is brought to the notice of all concerned that according to High Court Criminal Rules and Orders, the Registers of Processes are to be maintained for 3 years only. The suggested procedure of maintaining the Process Register in two parts and that the red ink volume thereof is to be maintained permanently runs counter to the provisions of Criminal Rules and Orders.
The Inspector-General therefore directs that the procedure of keeping the Process Register in two parts should be discontinued with immediate effect. The processes shall have an annual serial number and shall be maintained as enjoined in Regulation 471(c) of P.R.B., Vol. I, 1943. The Registers of Processes shall be preserved in the Courts of District and Sub-divisional Magistrates (i.e., in the court Police offices) for 3 years only.
By order,
B.C. Mukharji
Special Officer
West Bengal Police Directorate