COMMUNITY POLICING

Police Organization is established by the community for taking care of

their needs. The duty of the police is to protect community from crime, the
affects of crime and the fear of crime including prevention and detection of
crime, managing traffic, maintaining law and order, public tranquility,
safeguarding public and private property etc., for which police require the
cooperation and participation of public for their effective functioning.
Process of interacting with the community on regular basis for
identifying their needs, accepted methods of service delivery, problem
solving, involving community in problem solving, furnishing feedback on
services provided to the community, measuring and analyzing community
satisfaction for undertaking improvements is known as community policing.
In order to achieve the goals, Police require constant interaction with
the members of the public for organizing professional public relational setup
to create an impression that the police are their friends and are meant to
help them in case of need. In order to achieve these goals members of
police should cultivate to serve the needs, understand the problems of
others and adequate knowledge of his job requirement to earn their
appreciation and promotes to build up a beneficial public relationship leading
to healthy police public relations and to remove misapprehension about
police.
There is also need to take guidance / feedback from the community for
improving the community and individual citizen satisfaction.
This makes it compulsory for police to get in touch with all members of
community in non incident situations and involve them as active partners in
policing efforts.

COMMUNITY POLICING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Community Policing (Maithri):

The main objective was to detect and prevent crime through

proactive policing.

The

duties

of

the

police

in

preventing

crimes

and

prosecution of offenders cannot be completed with out involving

the public. Therefore they have to depend on assistance and
willing co-operation of the public.

The public co-operation is needed in getting clues, in

detection of crimes, figuring as panch witnesses in investigation
and as witnesses for prosecution in courts. Besides this, their
assistance is needed in curbing crimes, traffic regulation and
education, arresting illegal traffic in drugs, counterfeit currency,
white collar offences, eve teasing, atrocities on oppressed
communities etc.

In order to achieve full co-operation and co-ordination of

the public, the concept of community policing called 'Maithri'
has been introduced in the state during the year 2001.

Maithri Programme aims at making the public and the police

partners in the work relating to crime and law and order.

It is proactive work by allowing ordinary citizen a voice in

the police process in exchange for their support in order to
make society a safer place to live.

It creates a positive shift in the role of police from "working

against bad people" to "working with good people" in the
society.

Police

provide

opportunities

for

ordinary

citizens

to

effectively contribute to the prevention and detection of crime.

Any member of the public, male or female who is not

involved in civil or criminal case can become a member of
maithri.

The members of maithri can provide useful information

leading to solving of crimes.

Maithri members can also prevent any abuse of Police power

because of easy accessibility to the station house officer and
other senior personnel.

Role of Maithri Members:

Beats and night Patrols

Assistance in traffic

Crime prevention

Information collection

Assistance in Law and Order Maintenance

Involvement in Prohibition Work.

Maithri movement has been found helpful in creating

channels for receiving the right information at the right time.

It has also helped the police to come closer to the

community. It has tried to impart fairness, transparency and

impartiality in the working of the police.
This system is functioning effectively in all districts of AP

since 2001.
Area Committees were formed and they were taught all

aspects of community policing which helped them to trace and

resolve small local issues.
Regular meetings were held with the committee members

and this forum helped the police to "discuss and solve current
problems and also provided valuable information to the police
on new, unfolding communal dimensions."
A number of meetings were arranged on Attitudinal Change

for Police Officers so that it enabled the police officers to give

up their rigid colonial mindset and interact with the community
in a friendly and cordial manner.
An effort was made by the police officers to resolve conflicts

or

problems

through

consultation

with

Area

committee

members, other governmental agencies etc.

The police have been successful in finding solutions to

several local problems through effective intra and inter agency
consultations.

Some of the maithri members helped to prevent incidence

of property crimes and to give information on the designs and
whereabouts of absconding terrorists resulted in seizure of
contrabands, explosives, detonators, lethal weapons, black
money, sandalwood, drugs etc.

Effective student police interaction helped the police to

reconstruct peace and harmony.

The students were deputed when there was a shortage in

police station staff to check vehicles on the roads, check
baggages in Railway Stations and Bus Stands etc.

Slum adoption scheme with the help of maithri members

helped to disengage slum dwellers from engaging in any anti
social activity and to secure easy access for the police into the
slums.

Beat Officers' System: PS area is divided into beat areas

and each beat area was manned by two constables called Beat
Officers. This instilled pride in them and empowered them to
make independent decisions, made them more responsible and
responsive to public needs. Policemen were also encouraged to
attend to civic problems to gain goodwill of the people. Through
all this, the police succeeded in creating an atmosphere that
was citizen friendly and was conducive for anyone to confide
any information. The people also appreciated the efforts of the
police and volunteered assistance to police in crime prevention.

Complaint Box System: Complaint Boxes were kept at

different locations to receive information from public who may
prefer to remain unidentified and yet participate in their effort
to assist the police. Such letters were collected daily and acted
upon quickly to encourage the informants.

Wide Area Network (W.A.N.) was introduced in all police

stations with Internet connectivity and email service. This
facility has brought the police closer to the public, making the
police more responsive, transparent and interactive.

Help Line for Distressed persons: To reach to those persons

who need help and assistance, a help line 100, 108 etc., were
launched to receive distress calls round the clock by a team of
police. They render necessary help that is required. Slum
Adoption

Programme:

Due

to

poverty

and

other

socio

economical factors, slums have become the breeding ground

for criminals and other anti social elements. To access these
areas where the police had difficulty in gaining entry, attempts
were made to improve the living condition of the people by
constant approach. Mass awareness programmes are conducted
on hygiene, evils of drug/alcoholism, and AIDS. Medical camps
were arranged, youth activities in sports were sponsored, and
an initiative was taken to improve the environment of the

community by tree planting. All these initiatives yielded good

results.

Numbers of police camps in the form of Spot Redressal of

Public Grievances were organized in communally sensitive
villages. The main objective of these camps was to restore the
confidence of the people on the police force, to improve the
police public relationship and to maintain law and order
situation.

As a gesture of goodwill, the police attend and participate in

the religious festivals and also arrange sports activities to build
rapport with the community.

Launching of "neighborhood watch scheme" to promote

policing through community participation. The community
policing initiative was also aimed at changing the attitude of the
average policeman at the police stations towards the public, to
make them people friendly and to improve their living and
working conditions.

Visit of school children to police stations: To remove fear of

Police from the minds of children, to add transparency,
awareness and better understanding of the police force.

Village Touring by Police Officers: During such visits, the

policemen discuss the problems faced by the rural people and
other law and order related issues.

Police Assistance Centers: These centers are established at

important places like bus stand, junctions etc. These centers
have gone a long way in instilling sense of security and
protection in the minds of general public, especially tourists.

Women cells have been established in all districts, which are

manned by lady investigating officers so that victims of woman
related crimes can express themselves freely without hesitation
to the women officers as compared to their male counterparts.

Sports Activity: Police is taking initiative organizing Inter

School competition in sports and other activities to the
youngsters of the locality.

Blood donation programmes are organized in urban and

rural areas to cater the needs of the sickly persons admitted in
hospitals.

Awards: Police should encourage public by way of giving

awards to the citizens who have turned out exemplary work
helping the police in prevention of crime.

Counseling Centers: Police along with several leading NGOs

of the city have opened counseling centers for women,
juveniles, elders, drug or alcohol addicts manned by trained
counselors and psychiatrists.

Panels

of

citizen

volunteers

were

enrolled

to

enlist

community participation. Women and students were given

adequate representation. Social functions were organized at
each Police Station to inaugurate these centers. Senior police
Officers

and

community

leaders

spoke

at

great

length,

explaining the concept behind this initiative to generate mass

awareness about this initiative.

Police personnel with the right aptitude were selected as

nodal officers to act as interface at the centers. They provided
technical assistance to citizen volunteers in the field of dispute
resolution.

This experiment has proved to be a very effective, prompt

and inexpensive way in rendering justice and preventing crime
and it has also found widespread appeal because of its
applicability among community members.

Role of Maithri Members:

Beats and night Patrols

Assistance in traffic

Crime prevention

Information collection

Assistance in Law and Order Maintenance

Involvement in Prohibition Work.

Maithri movement has been found helpful in creating

channels for receiving the right information at the right time.

It has also helped the police to come closer to the

community. It has tried to impart fairness, transparency and
impartiality in the working of the police.

This system is functioning effectively in all districts of AP

since 2001.

Area Committees were formed and they were taught all

aspects of community policing which helped them to trace and

resolve small local issues.
Regular meetings were held with the committee members

and this forum helped the police to "discuss and solve current
problems and also provided valuable information to the police
on new, unfolding communal dimensions."
A number of meetings were arranged on Attitudinal Change

for Police Officers so that it enabled the police officers to give

up their rigid colonial mindset and interact with the community
in a friendly and cordial manner.
An effort was made by the police officers to resolve conflicts

or

problems

through

consultation

with

Area

committee

members, other governmental agencies etc.

The police have been successful in finding solutions to

several local problems through effective intra and inter agency
consultations.

Some of the maithri members helped to prevent incidence

of property crimes and to give information on the designs and
whereabouts of absconding terrorists resulted in seizure of
contrabands, explosives, detonators, lethal weapons, black
money, sandalwood, drugs etc.

Effective student police interaction helped the police to

reconstruct peace and harmony.

The students were deputed when there was a shortage in

police station staff to check vehicles on the roads, check
baggages in Railway Stations and Bus Stands etc.

Slum adoption scheme with the help of maithri members

helped to disengage slum dwellers from engaging in any anti
social activity and to secure easy access for the police into the
slums.

Beat Officers' System: PS area is divided into beat areas

and each beat area was manned by two constables called Beat
Officers. This instilled pride in them and empowered them to
make independent decisions, made them more responsible and
responsive to public needs. Policemen were also encouraged to
attend to civic problems to gain goodwill of the people. Through
all this, the police succeeded in creating an atmosphere that
was citizen friendly and was conducive for anyone to confide

any information. The people also appreciated the efforts of the

police and volunteered assistance to police in crime prevention.

Complaint Box System: Complaint Boxes were kept at

different locations to receive information from public who may
prefer to remain unidentified and yet participate in their effort
to assist the police. Such letters were collected daily and acted
upon quickly to encourage the informants.

Wide Area Network (W.A.N.) was introduced in all police

stations with Internet connectivity and email service. This
facility has brought the police closer to the public, making the
police more responsive, transparent and interactive.

Help Line for Distressed persons: To reach to those persons

who need help and assistance, a help line 100, 108 etc., were
launched to receive distress calls round the clock by a team of
police. They render necessary help that is required. Slum
Adoption

Programme:

Due

to

poverty

and

other

socio

economical factors, slums have become the breeding ground

for criminals and other anti social elements. To access these
areas where the police had difficulty in gaining entry, attempts
were made to improve the living condition of the people by
constant approach. Mass awareness programmes are conducted
on hygiene, evils of drug/alcoholism, and AIDS. Medical camps
were arranged, youth activities in sports were sponsored, and
an initiative was taken to improve the environment of the
community by tree planting. All these initiatives yielded good
results.

Numbers of police camps in the form of Spot Redressal of

Public Grievances were organized in communally sensitive
villages. The main objective of these camps was to restore the
confidence of the people on the police force, to improve the
police public relationship and to maintain law and order
situation.

As a gesture of goodwill, the police attend and participate in

the religious festivals and also arrange sports activities to build
rapport with the community.

Launching of "neighborhood watch scheme" to promote

policing through community participation. The community
policing initiative was also aimed at changing the attitude of the
average policeman at the police stations towards the public, to

make them people friendly and to improve their living and

working conditions.

Visit of school children to police stations: To remove fear of

Police from the minds of children, to add transparency,
awareness and better understanding of the police force.

Village Touring by Police Officers: During such visits, the

policemen discuss the problems faced by the rural people and
other law and order related issues.

Police Assistance Centers: These centers are established at

important places like bus stand, junctions etc. These centers
have gone a long way in instilling sense of security and
protection in the minds of general public, especially tourists.

Women cells have been established in all districts, which are

manned by lady investigating officers so that victims of woman
related crimes can express themselves freely without hesitation
to the women officers as compared to their male counterparts.

Sports Activity: Police is taking initiative organizing Inter

School competition in sports and other activities to the
youngsters of the locality.

Blood donation programmes are organized in urban and

rural areas to cater the needs of the sickly persons admitted in
hospitals.

Awards: Police should encourage public by way of giving

awards to the citizens who have turned out exemplary work
helping the police in prevention of crime.

Counseling Centers: Police along with several leading NGOs

of the city have opened counseling centers for women,
juveniles, elders, drug or alcohol addicts manned by trained
counselors and psychiatrists.

Panels

of

citizen

volunteers

were

enrolled

to

enlist

community participation. Women and students were given

adequate representation. Social functions were organized at
each Police Station to inaugurate these centers. Senior police
Officers

and

community

leaders

spoke

at

great

length,

explaining the concept behind this initiative to generate mass

awareness about this initiative.

Police personnel with the right aptitude were selected as

nodal officers to act as interface at the centers. They provided

technical assistance to citizen volunteers in the field of dispute

resolution.
This experiment has proved to be a very effective, prompt

and inexpensive way in rendering justice and preventing crime

and it has also found widespread appeal because of its
applicability among community members.

Public Relations:

Police in a democratic polity can discharge its duties effectively

only with the cooperation of the people.

Public assistance is needed for prevention, detection, investigation

and prosecution of cases, and also for maintaining peace during
all major social, cultural, economic and political events.

For

eliciting

and

sustaining

such

co-operation

constant

interaction with the members of the public needs to be organized

by professional public relations set up within the organization.

Police form a powerful wing of executive. Law enforcement is their

prime duty.

Execution of lawful duties presupposes public service to the

citizens.

Police need the assistance of the public in the prevention,

detection, investigation and prosecution of the cases, either for
furnishing clues or for figuring as panch witnesses or to figure as
witnesses for prosecution, in getting the criminals convicted.

Police are expected to create an impression in the public that the

police are their friends and are meant to help them in case of
need.

The mind to serve, the need to understand the problems of

others, the inherent tendency to remember his job requirements
is bound to earn laurels for the individual police officer and
through him to the entire force. This will build a beneficial public
relationship leading to healthy police public relations. Public
relationship is to be built up keeping this in view, more so to
remove misapprehension in the public about the police.

One post of public relations officer is created in the office of the

Superintendent of Police in the district and the Commissioners of
Police in large cities.

In Hyderabad city, public relations officer is for the three main

functional branches i.e., law and order, crime/investigation and
traffic.

At the Chief Office Chief Public Relation Officer post is created to

liaise with the other Public Relation Officers.

The Addl. DGP (L&O) will be in charge of the public relations work
in the police. Professionals in print and visual media as well as
advertising will be part of the Public Relations set up at state
police headquarters.

Public relations officers in the district may be drawn from police

officers of rank of Inspector or from among professionals on
deputation/contract.

In the other units of the police like APSP, Training Colleges, the PR
functions shall be handled by the officer of the rank of a DSP or
Inspector at the Unit headquarters.

The CID shall have a separate PRO of the rank of a DSP or a

professional on a contract appointment or deputation.

All PROs either from the police or on deputation shall undergo a

two-week orientation course in a professional PR Institute and
one-week orientation course to be designed and implemented by
the APPA.

The APPA and other training colleges should include in the normal
curriculum the essential features of public relations.

The profile of the police department and its objectives are to be

borne in mind in all Public Relations functions.

The police and its objectives and organizational goals are set out
in Police Manual.

The manner of working of police and the services made available

to the public are detailed in the Police Manual.

The information and public relation functions are attuned to subserve the interests of the public and the goals of the organization.

Since the services to be rendered are linked closely with the lives,
possessions, liberties, rights and honor of all persons, it is all the
more necessary that the public relation functions become a part
of the police organization's work.

The functions of the Public Relations organization are:

To regularly inform the public the objectives of the police,

the rights of the people under law, the services, which the
police have designed for the public.

Highlight the constraints and problems of police like

attacks on policemen, killing of police officers, the legal
requirements of police actions, the situations arising out of
conflicting rights, physical and mental strain to which the
policeman is subjected.

Disseminate information to the public on police matters

particularly on important incidents and crimes.

To apprise the public the importance on preservation of

crime scenes for evidentiary value also informing them
about the importance of giving truthful information and also
the need to come forward to give evidence in courts
courageously as a part of service to the society.

The need for the public to co-operate with the police in

furnishing clues, giving assistance in investigation and to
come forward to figure as witnesses in the court for the
effective control of crime by the police.

To identify favorable as well as adverse criticism on

behavior of police officers as reported or appeared in news
media and other sources and bring to notice of SP/DCP/CP
and other unit officers with press clippings and with their
instructions issue rejoinder with facts of the case.

In times of emergencies, serious public order situations

and outbreak of crime, provide all the information required
to the public.

Interaction

with

voluntary

organizations

particularly

dealing with the problems of children, women, scheduled

castes, scheduled tribes, minorities and crime prevention
societies;
o

Production,

display

and

distribution

of

brochures,

television serials, short films and other mass media to bring

out the areas of police-public

cooperation and highlight

important aspects of police work including sensational

crimes,

crime

prevention

measures,

and

manner

of

overcoming lapses and failures in the police; and the need

for

effective

cooperation

by

the

public

in

detection,

investigation and prosecution of cases.

o

To see that the relevant articles relating to police public

relations, the need for station staff to maintain good public
relations

are

contributed

to

monthly

police

magazine

"SURAKSHA" and other publications to enlighten the staff

and other readers.
o

To create awareness among public about police actions

and dispel any misunderstandings or doubts.

To launch internal communication programme between

police officers through in-house journals, video exhibitions,
seminars, meetings etc.

To provide correct feedback of public reactions and their

grievances from publications or other media as well as
opinion of leaders.

Setting up and running of an Information Centre and

arrange press conferences with senior officers whenever
necessary.

Maintain close liaison and relation with media persons,

Audio and visual and also organize seminars with media and
police

officers

to

evolve

better

communication,

understanding and co-operation in police work.

o

Organize traditional cultural forms of publicity like street

plays, dramas, burrakathas, puppet shows, songs etc.

Release all advertisements of the department relating to

recruitment, procurement etc.

Relations:

The PROs of the department should be in regular touch with the

Information

and

Public

Relations

Department

of

the

State

Government, Doordarsan, All India Radio, the Directorate of Field

Publicity of the Government of India etc., and organize publicity
for all the good work done by the police since positive work
usually does not readily attract the attention of the media.

The external public relations campaign should be designed to

inform, educate, build awareness and confidence in the minds of
the public by adopting the following methods.
o

Educative slogans: These can be publicized through

posters, hoardings, newspapers, radio, television, printed
literature and electronic display, meetings with voluntary
bodies, audio visuals and direct interaction with public.

Newspapers: This is a powerful media and is read by a

large number of people and still those who read and discuss
about what they read influence a larger number. Regular
press releases in a neat format containing information from
time

to

time

bundobusts,

on

important

crime

policy

information,

decisions,

events,

clarifications,

traffic

diversions, arrangements for fairs, festivals, elections and in

times of emergencies, peace and order situations would go
a long way in keeping the public properly informed. Press
conferences by senior officers occasionally and whenever
situation demands is a useful method of direct interaction
with the press and also indirectly with the public. The
rejoinders, letters to the Editor and clarifications in a proper
format would enable clarifications and action taken on
grievances brought to notice. Press clippings provide useful
feedback to the police officers and enable them to respond
or take suitable measures.
o

Electronic

Media:

The

educative

slogans

may

be

displayed or read out through the electronic media and

radio. Arrangements to make special announcements in the
news channels and in cases of emergencies even by
interrupting the normal programmes are an effective means
of communications. Interviews with senior officers, telecast
on specific topics or matters of interest would also help in
improving the information to the public. The news releases
made to the newspapers should also be conveyed through

the radio and television channels. The other forms of audio

and visual media which can be utilized are documentaries,
commercial

spots,

panel

discussions,

talks,

special

announcements, specialized audience programmes, film

strips, telefilms, cinema slides, video cassettes, news
photographs and photographs for TV, pictorial albums and
record albums.
o

Departmental Publications: The department should

bring about periodical publications in Telugu as well as in
English

on

particularly

various

topics

in

matter

the

of

interests

and

area

policing,

of

schemes
crime

investigation, crime scene protection, preventive measures,

traffic discipline and conveying information. Apart from this
such matters as handling blackmail, threatening calls, long
absences from houses, threats to life or property would
greatly help the public in knowing what steps they can take
when faced with such situations. Apart from the regular
publications,

books,

pamphlets,

folders,

handbooks,

calendars, diaries, greeting cards, pictorial publications,

direct mail are some of the forms by which information can
be conveyed.
o

Advertising: The main objective of advertising is to

disseminate information of major schemes or situations,
significant achievements, building up of an image based on
performance. It is also a method of presenting the good
news covering the major achievements, which sometimes
the media may not normally print or give due position or
importance. This may be done in all the three media
particularly in the print and the visual media. Advertising
may be done through press, radio, TV and film ads, and
outdoor hoardings and also through classified public service
and institutional advertisement.

Audio-Visuals: This is an effective media to give a

glimpse of the functioning of the organization for the benefit
of employees as well as others and to select audiences like
visiting dignitaries, elected representatives, institutions,

students and those who visit the departments and its

facilities.
o

Exhibitions: The trade fairs, industrial and agricultural

exhibitions and rural exhibitions can be utilized for visibility
campaign through erecting police stalls portraying the work
being done by the department.

Traditional Media: This media through songs, dances,

drama, Harikatha, Burrakatha, puppet shows and other folk
forms lends itself as a very good media for communication
with the public. Being live forms they have a powerful
appeal if properly conceived and correctly portrayed. Apart
from professionals, police officers themselves who have the
necessary talent can be utilized to stage such programs.
Talented teams can be prepared to tour different areas
staging plays and other programmes utilizing the latest
sound, light and music equipment.

Other Media: This includes open house discussions,

bulletin boards, sponsorship of sports, art and culture,
professional awards and scholarships etc. The sports and
culture media is of advantage as policemen have the
capacity of attractive display talents of mass drill and other
specific forms of martial arts which have a relation to their
profession. These shows attract large gatherings and are a
good

media

of

communication.

They

also

provide

feedback to the department directly.

o

Verbal Communication: The conferences, meetings,

group discussions, seminars, meeting the public, are a twoway communication process.

A website for the AP Police has been established and

maintained by Police Computer Services on the Internet.
The website will be updated from time to time with
assistance from the districts as well as other units of the
police department and kept ready for use as deemed
appropriate.

The communication facility to be provided to the Unit

PROs and at the State Headquarters should have an
Internet link to enable prompt conveying of press notes to
television and newspaper channels directly.

The above facility enables access to information about

other police Units in the country as well as abroad apart
from serving as a useful media for investigation of certain
type of offences and even in the matter of arrest of
absconding accused. Such information as look out notices,
which are required to be published, can be sent out with
least delay to various parts of the country.

An annual or half yearly seminar with the editors of both

print and visual media channels should be conducted to
discuss common problems of crime reporting and the need
for conveying information to the public.

Where local television channels are available in towns and

cities, arrangement has to be made to reserve a particular
time for the police to feed the news or other information of
interest to the public. The preparation of the handouts and
the persons who should act as a spokesman should be
determined by the SsP concerned in the districts and other
heads of the Units in the State Headquarters.

A spokesman should be nominated for each Unit to

respond to all queries and clarifications at all times and he
should

be

furnished

with

and

have

access

to

such

information which should be made available to the public.

An arrangement on these lines would reduce the need for
the Heads of the Units to frequently meet the press or
divert their attention from the work with which they may be
engaged.
o

The information desk in every control room should be

manned by a police officer, trained in public relations or
public relations personnel. The PRO of every Unit should be
in close touch with the information desks in the control
room of his area.

Meeting the public: The grievances of the public will be

known better if the officers meet the public face to face.
These meetings should take place when the officers go on
tour or on inspection. The visits should be to various
villages and localities. Meetings on specific subjects or on
specific problems with those affected or likely to be affected
should also be convened to know the correct facts and the
feelings of the public apart from their views. These should
not be confused with the meetings, which may be held with
representatives

of

certain

organizations

to

handle

particular situation or a problem.

o

Evaluation: The primary duty of the PR organization and

the senior officers is to evaluate the impact from time to
time of the public relations function. The evaluation should
be in terms of the employee's response and the extent to
which knowledge, interest, acceptance and sympathy have
replaced

the

ignorance,

apathy, prejudice

or

hostility

respectively. The results should be studied and suitable

modifications

made

to

improve

the

impact

of

the

information on public relations exercise.

o

The expectations from the public relations organization of

the police will be the same as in other organizations and are
briefly mentioned below for the guidance of all the officers:

Sharpen your communication skills and maintain good

media

relations

by

both

receiving

and

transmitting

information of interest to the organization.

o

Keep the eyes and ears of the department open to

peoples' reactions.

o
o

Act as an ambassador of the department.

Create an all-round understanding of management
problems and actions.

Project the image to various publics.

Serve as an antenna-cum-receiver by providing feedback

information and disseminating department's policies both

with the employees and the public. Identify problems and

measures to solve them.
o

Serve as facilitator lubricants of communication between

the department and the public.

Make the management public relations conscious

Process Steps and Details relating to Community Policing:

Process Steps
Community Police
Officer

Identify

Process Details
the staff members

who

have

aptitude to maintain good relations with the

public for choosing as CPO.

Divide the police station area into convenient

sectors depending upon the incidence of
crime

and

allot

staff

member

for

maintaining public relations in the sector

area.

The

nominated

community

police

officer

should acquaint with the area and public.

Impart necessary training to the nominated

member about the duties of the community
police officer.

Community policing officer should be trained

on the following aspects.
o

Purpose of community policing.

Process of community policing.

Felt

needs

identification

of

community.
o

Techniques

of

penetrating

into

community for building partnership.

o

Selection of community liaison

groups.

Problem solving techniques.

Counseling techniques.

Leadership qualities.

Investigation techniques.

Liaison with other departments /

organizations / agencies.

Event management skills.

Identification

of

resources

for

problem solving in the community.

Curbing

social

vices

in

the

community.
Disaster management.

Training on data recording and

analysis techniques.
o

Bomb disposal.

Emergency response.

Technology integration for crime

prevention.

Communication skills.

Team building.

Victim and witness support.

Maintenance of records.

Mental alertness and interest to

work.

Provide

Perseverant.
required

infrastructure

like

notebooks, pamphlets, literature, campaign

material etc., for distributing among the
public depending on situations.

SHO should guide the community police

officer where ever attention / guidance is
required.

The

nominated

community

police

officer

(CPO) should acquaint himself:

o

With the sector area.

Crime reported.

Problems in the area.

Activities of unsocial elements.

Known litigants in the area.

Communal activists.

Place of public entertainment.

Licensed Arms holders.

Meeting places.

Trouble shooters.

Petition mongers.

Important persons.

Criminals.

Suspects.

Receivers of stolen property.

Organizers of satta - gambling,

dens for sale of illicit liquor and
prostitution etc.

Persons wanted by police.

Problems

faced

by

the

colony

residents.

Places of public gathering:

Educational institutions.

Religious institutions.

Public and private offices.

Factories.

Labor activities.

Vital installations.

Develop

services

information

to

for

citizens

dissemination
like

help

of

desks,

developing hierarchy of people for passing

information on chain basis etc.

Develop service for collection of information

from community like information on crime;
extremists, ISI activists, known criminals;
suspicious persons, vices etc.

Develop and communicate means to access

police in times of emergency.

CPO should collect following area wise data:

o

Government offices / establishments.

Educational institutions.

Apartments and associations.

Colony associations.

Important business establishments /

shops / super markets / commercial
complexes.

Industries, factories, companies.

Petrol bunks / domestic gas agencies.

Chit fund and finance organizations.

Banks and ATM centers.

Wine shops / bars/ toddy shops.

Transport organizations.

Scrap shops.

Video shops / internet centers.

Hospitals.

Temples / places of worship.

Clubs / recreation centers / cinema

theatres / Holiday resorts.

Hotels, lodges, dhabas.

Bus stands / railway Stations.

Auto stands.

STD booths / PCOs.

Isolated / scattered Houses.

Previous crime occurrence - crime wise

(houses / shops / farm houses etc).

Farm houses / gardens.

Political leaders.

VIPs,

working

and

retired

senior

officers, judges.
o

Pawn brokers, jewelry shop owners,

receivers of stolen properties.

Real estate business dealers.

Function halls / community halls.

Security alarm system installed houses.

Teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers

in the area.

Senior

citizens

and

retired

professionals.
o

Markets.

Places of gathering.

Ambulance and fire services.

Criminal settlements, shelters.

List of rowdies, DCs, KDs, ex-convicts

in the area.

List of slums.

List of bootleggers i.e., ID liquor, ganja,

land grabbers, communal rowdies.

List

of

UG

cadre

extremists,

sympathizers.
o

List of ISI activists / supporters.

Targets

for ISI activities, extremist

activities.
o

Gun license holders.

Senior citizens.

Fairs and festivals.

Maithri / youth / resident association

groups and other groups.

Likely

places

of

installation

of

landmines / claymore mines.

o

Explosive storage points.

Lists of non Govt. organizations.

Old age homes, orphanages, mentally

challenged group homes.

Forming Community
Liaison Groups
(CLGs)

Victims, witnesses colony-wise.

CPO should identify committed members

from each locality / area / street etc.

Form them into a community liaison group.

Appoint a facilitator among them for each

group who will maintain liaison with the
police and group members in all matters
relating to community policing.

CPO should form various liaison groups for

various purposes like:
o

Maithri Committee:
General

awareness,

programmes,

contact

crime

support

prevention

and

emergency response etc.

o

Colony Association:
Need identification of colony, awareness
and problem solving.

Apartment Association:
Need

identification,

awareness

problem solving, crime prevention.

and

NGO Association:
Problem solving and awareness.

Senior Citizen Association:

Need identification, problem solving.

Auto Drivers Association:

Awareness on traffic safety and victim
saving.

Student Association:
Awareness; road safety; participation in
crime

prevention

and

emergency

response.
o

Defence Squads:
Crime Prevention, beat system.

Youth Groups:
Education

awareness,

developing

hierarchy of people for information, taking

social works like: shramadaan, sanitation,
free education to children, organizing free
medical camps, awareness on general
laws / road safety measures, ill affects of
practice of social evils like: drinking /
gambling / smoking / illiteracy etc.
o

Women

Organization

Organization

Women

NGO
Welfare

Centers:
Counseling of family matters, matrimonial
issues, complaints of woman harassment,
training

in

tailoring,
computer

vocational

courses

embroidery,
training

etc.,

like

handicrafts,
formation

of

societies like 'Dwakra, velugu' etc.

o

Other Groups:
Depending on the felt needs.

CPO should identify the active members from

localities

having

aptitude

to

help

the

community and maintaining good relations

for choosing as facilitators.

The CPO after taking their willingness to act

as facilitator will inform the SHO and take his

approval for appointment of such persons as

facilitators.
Community policing (Maithri) (Ord. 401):

For prevention, investigation of crimes and

prosecuting of offenders the assistance and
cooperation of public is required.

In order to achieve full cooperation and

coordination of the public, the concept of
community policing called 'maithri' has been
introduced in the year 2001.

It creates a positive shift in the role of police

from

"working

against

bad

people"

to

"working with good people" in the society.

Maithri program aims at making the public

and the police partners in the work relating
to crime and law and order.

It is a proactive work allowing ordinary

citizen a voice in the police process in
exchange for their support in order to make
society a safer place to live.

It creates a positive shift in the role of police

from 'working against bad people' to 'working
with good people' in the society.

Objectives of Maithri:

The main objectives of Maithri are:

o

To meet the felt and expressed needs of

small and varied groups of people in the
community by actively involving them in
the process.

To organize proactive measures to

prevent and detect crime.

To provide personalized high quality

service to the people at the decentralized
level.

Process of Maithri:

The process of implementation of Maithri can

be explained in brief using the acronym
CAMP in the following way:
o

Consultation: Consulting the members

of the society on their felt needs and
their priorities.
Adaptation: Making changes in policing
methods and using the most appropriate
legal measures.
Mobilization: Mobilizing the man power

and material resources of the police and

other

governmental,

non-governmental

and community agencies.

Problem Solving: Actual participation in

the work for eliminating the problem

Size and Composition:

Maithri Committees consisting of about 50

members of the local community shall be
formed by all the SHOs of law and order
police stations in the state for making them
partners in police efforts broadly with the
following composition:

Senior Citizens

..

Women

..

15%

Youth

..

40%

Members of SC/ST
Minorities

..
..

05%

15%

05%

Professionals and others ..

20%

Special Maithri Committees:

Traffic Police stations, wherever they exist

independent of the law and order Police

stations,

shall

form

Committees

consisting

holders

matters

in

Traffic
of

Maithri

various

relating

stake

to

traffic

management having a membership of around

50 citizens.

Meetings to be organized for traffic maithri

committee members periodically and their
services to be utilized in maintenance of
traffic regulation and for removal of traffic
hazards

and

encroachments

causing

abstraction for smooth flow of traffic. Their

concentration should be at junction points
and also near the educational institutions.
Their presence is also ensure particularly at
the educational institutional at the time of
arrival and departure of students.

Traffic maithri committee members helps in

proper parking of vehicles at auto stands,
during traffic jams and cinema theaters.

Their services are needed mostly during peak

hours.

Qualifications of Members:

Every member of a Maithri Committee should

be:
Respected

members

of

the

local

community not involved in any criminal

activity directly or indirectly.
A person not involved in any political or

social controversy.
A person willing to voluntarily take up

the cause of the community.

Note: Membership should be given after due
verification

of

the

antecedents

of

the

willing

citizens
Tenure:

The tenure of members is normally 2 years.

Each year during January the suitability of
members should be reviewed and unsuitable
members

should

be

removed.

The

membership of suitable members should be

continued for the remaining period of tenure.
Useful

members

are

eligible

for

further

tenures.
Identity Cards:

Photo-identity cards may be issued for all the

willing Maithri Members.

Area of Operation:

Maithri Committees shall be formed for local

areas, the residents of which generally fact
the same issues so that the committee
members have common agenda to discuss
and collaborate. As such in the rural areas
maithri

Committees

should

be

formed

village-wise where as in the urban areas the

committees should be formed locality or
colony wise.
Maithri Meetings:

Maithri meetings should be held with the

following guidelines in mind.
o

Meeting should be held in the villages in

the rural areas and locality or colony-wise
in the case of urban areas.

Every Maithri Committee should meet at

least once a month.

The Station House Officer should attend

all the meetings and act as the moderator.

The proceedings of the meetings should

be recorded in a permanent register.

Records:

The following records shall be maintained

covering Maithri Programme separately for
each and every Maithri Committee.
o

Maithri Membership Register

Maithri Meeting Register

Reports:

Details covering the work done under Maithri

Programme should be incorporated in the
following

reports

submitted

by

various

officers as indicated below.

Monthly Crime Reviews.

Monthly Reports of SDPOs and other

Senior Officers in the field.

Role of various Police Officers:

The

Unit

organizing

Officers
and

are

responsible

monitoring

the

for

maithri

Programme regularly.

The Station House Officer is responsible for

setting up Maithri Committees at the local
and taking up various community policing
activities with the active support of the local
people.

A Head Constable or a Constable shall act as

the facilitator who should be in constant
touch with the Maithri members and attend

to day-to-day matters relating to Maithri.

All the supervisory officers should constantly

guide and empower the SHOs in making the
programme work successfully.

Co-ordination:

Co-ordination with the other governmental

and non-governmental agencies is the most
important aspect if Maithri Programme has to
succeed.

As such SHOs Inspectors, SDPOs and others

including the Unit Officers should co-ordinate
with

other

governmental

and

non-

governmental functionaries broadly equal to

their status and make the Maithri activities
successful.
Rewards and Recognition:

Rewards should be given liberally to all the

police officers for organizing useful Maithri
activities. Certificates of Recognition should
be

given

to

Maithri

Members

who

do

outstanding work, and due publicity should

be given through the media for all the Maithri
activities.
Maithri Hand Book:

For detailed guidelines "Maithri Hand Book" in

English "Maithri Sutravali" in Telugu are
published by the Director General of Police,
Hyderabad.

Community Relations:

Community
department
various

Relations
involve

mainly

socio-economic

children,
minorities

women,
etc.

of

youth,

on

the

Police

working

groups

such

daliths,

matters

with
as

tribals,

relating

to

problems

which

have

direct

or

indirect

bearing on crime, law and order, traffic etc.

such as:
o

Superstitions like witchcraft, sorcery,

black magic, female infanticide, jogini and
devadasi systems etc.

Problems of mission, run away and

street children.

Alcoholism.

Harassment of women.

Hazardous child labor.

Traffic accidents

Natural calamities.

Recidivism.

Juvenile delinquency.

Social

boycott

and

other

social

disabilities like untouchability.

o

Problems of victims of violence and

accidents.

Suicides.

Child prostitution.

Drug addiction.

In order to solve such problems the Unit

Officers may devise programme such as:
o

Back Home Project for missing and run

away children.

Child and Police Project for children at

risk.
Propaganda at the village level against

local superstitions practices.

Family Counseling Centers relating to

domestic harassment of women.

De-addiction programme for alcohol and

drug addicts.
o

Sports activities for youth.

Traffic awareness programme for High

School and College students.
Blood donation and Medical camps and

Aids awareness programme.

Education

and

Skill -

programmes

for

street

Development
and

working

children.
Eye

camps

and

First

Aid

training

programme for vehicle drivers.

Visit your Police programme.

The problems and programme listed

above are not exhaustive. The unit officers

and

the

field

community

officers

relations

may

organize

programme

on

monthly basis Sub-division wise. The help

and collaboration of various governmental,
non-governmental and community-based
organizations,

professional

and

trade

associations may be taken in organizing

such programme.

The

Director

General

Inspector

General

Relations

and

of

Maithri

of

Police

Police,
should

and

Dy.

Community
be

kept

informed of all the Community Relations

Programme so that they can guide the
programmes wherever necessary.

Conduct of Community Relations Programme

should find mention in the monthly reports of

Identification of felt
needs of the
community

SDPOs and Ss.P.

CPO should identify the crime prone area,
social evils, social conflicts, living conditions
etc.

Identify vulnerable sections viz., disabled

persons,

orphans,

women

and

children,

street children, weaker sections, SC / STs,

unemployed youth, SC / ST, child labor,
juveniles, old aged, school children, victims,
witnesses.

Identify felt needs of the community i.e.,

community wise, vulnerable sections wise.

CPO should have the list / nature of felt

needs of the community in relation to police:
o

Head wise crime occurrence.

Traffic safety.

Social vices.

Factions.

Communal incidents.

White collar offences.

Group rivalry.

Petty offences

Eve teasing.

Ragging.

Matrimonial matters.

Child labor.

Unemployed youth.

Threat perception from extremist point

of view.

Threat perception from ISI activists

point of view.

School children needs.

Old aged person needs.

Slum area problems.

Vulnerable sections needs.

Identify and form community liaison groups

and

imparting

training

in

the

following

subjects:
o

Purpose of community policing.

Process of community policing.

Individual counseling.

Group counseling.

Mediations.

Conflict resolutions.

Cause and effect of social evils.

Crime

prevention -

technology

integration.

Life saving methods - first aid methods.

Crime reporting.

Victim and witness care.

Traffic safety.

Assistance in investigation.

Access to police in emergency.

Road accident - insurance claims.

Law and procedures.

Partnership

with

other

institutions

organizations / agencies / individuals for

problem solving, awareness and training.

Identifying root
causes for felt needs
through their
analysis

Liaison with other departments.

CPO will identify the root causes for felt
needs viz., poor lighting conditions may be
causes

for

snatchings.

This

requires

partnership of electricity department. Like

wise he should study the crime reported in
his area and study the felt needs and keep
liaison

with

concerned

departments

in

preventing offences.

Like wise CPO will seek partnership of the

community and other private organizations in
analyzing the root cause analysis and take
remedial steps in consultation with the SHO

and other departments in the larger interest

of the public needs.

CPO in consultation with SHO seek the help /

assistance

of

the

following

Government

departments for taking remedial steps for the

problems focused by the public:
o

Fire department.

Ambulance services.

Revenue department.

Municipal / Local bodies.

R.T.C.

Roads and Buildings.

National Highway Authority of India

(NHAI).

Problem solving

Education department.

Medical and Health department.

Electricity department.

Telephone department.

Pollution Control Board.

Water Works department.

Road Transport Authority.

Lions Clubs.

Rotary Clubs.

Charitable Trusts.

Voluntary

Non

Government

Organizations.
CPO will be in touch with the community
liaison group to know the problems.

CPO will organize meetings colony wise,

sector wise and area wise to know the felt
needs.

CPO will maintain a register and enter the

details of the problems area wise in a
register and round up the problem as and
when it is solved.

Meetings to be organized mostly on Sundays

as residence will be free to attend the
meetings.

If residents pose the problems of other

departments the CPO in consultation with the

SHO

keep

liaison

with

the

concerned

departmental personnel and see that the

issue are solved.

CPO will also identify expert resources for

utilizing their services in solving problems.

While convening meetings CPO will inform

the probable dates for solving the issues.

CPO

will

communicate

the

emergency

numbers and important numbers to the

members of the community for their contact
in case of need like police control room, fire,
ambulance municipal, water works, hospitals,
Meeting Planner

etc.
CPO will prepare planner for meetings colony
wise, felt need wise, vulnerable section wise,
vulnerable area wise, Community Liaison
Group wise for various subjects like road
accidents, crime prevention methods, social
evils,

economic

offences,

women

harassment, ragging, eve teasing etc.

CPO will ensure that the meetings are held as

per schedule and enter the proceedings in
minute book.

Contact / Support
Programmes and
Distribution of
Literature

SHO should see that the problems discussed

in the meeting are attended promptly.

CPO will also plan organizing various
contact / support programmes and plan for
distribution of literature through pamphlets
on:
o

Crime

prevention -

technology

integration on crime prevention.

o

Occurrence of crime with MO details.

Movement of suspicious strangers and

known criminals.

Traffic safety.

Social vices - impact on community.

Crime and its occurrence and MO

adopted by criminals.

The CPO shall make arrangements for

circulation of the pamphlets.

Besides circulating pamphlets public to

o
be

cautioned

through

media,

through

slides in cinema halls etc.

Following is the suggestive list of Contact /

Support Programmes.
o

Victim Contact / Support Programme.

Witness Contact / Support Programme.

Senior

Citizen

Contact

Support

Programme.
o

School Contact / Support Programme.

Old

Age

Homes

Contact

Support

Programme.
o

Orphanages

Contact

Support

Programme.
o

Mentally Challenged Group Contact /

Support Programme.

Technology

Integration

Projects

for

Crime Prevention.
o

Sahrudayam Projects.

Traffic Improvement Projects.

Crime and Occurrence and Methodology

of Crime.

Awareness

on

Bogus

Chit

Fund

Finance Cos.
o

Traffic Safety - Insurance Claims.

Social Evils - Impact on Community Eradication.

Communal Harmony.

How to Prevent White Collar Offences.

Need for Data Bank of Blood Donors and

Eye Donors.

Dreaded Disease Awareness.

Crime Reporting Programmes.

Crime Scene Protection.

Assistance in Investigation.

Problem Solving Methods.

Planner for
Collection of Feed
Back from
Community

First Aid and Life Saving.

Open House Programmes.

Naxalism.

Pseudo Naxalism.

ISI Activities.

Bomb Disposal.

Access Channels to Police in Emergency.

o
Disaster Management.
CPO should plan for collection of feed back
from

community

problem

solved,

wise,

felt

need

wise,

vulnerable

area

wise,

vulnerable section wise and analyze the data

whether the service rendered is satisfactory
or other wise.

The CPO should bring the adverse feedback

to the notice of the SHO for his assessment
and action on genuine issues.

If the request is beyond the control of police

the concerned may be directed to seek
redresal with the concerned department.

CPO

can

collect the

data from

e-Cops,

reception centers and petition monitoring

Planner for Analysis
and Dissemination of
Community Feed
Back

Impact Analysis of
Community Policing

system for analysis and for further action.

CPO should analyze the feed back from
community and also data available from
other

sources

and

in

turn

inform

the

community the impact of analysis.

CPO should analyze the data and feed back
and study the impact of community policing
and need for improvement on the subjects
like.
o

Petitions reduced category-wise.

Crime Reduction.

Crime averted.

Number

of

offenders

caught

by

community.
o

Number of offenders caught with the

help of community.

Lives saved by Community.

Crime scene protected with the help of

community.

Overall Check List of

Community Policing
Efforts and Results

End Result

Crime reporting by community.

Assistance in investigation.

Fear of crime in the community.

Traffic Safety.

Social Vices eradication.

Victim care and witness support.

Security Measures.

Conviction of cases.

Confidence Levels of the Community -

Sense of Safety and Security.

CPO should prepare a check

list

of

community policing efforts and its results:

Problems identified.

Problems solved.

Problems yet to be solved.

Targets fixed.

% of problems solved.

Plan for solving unresolved problems.

Community should be able to identify and

solve their problems.

Community should be able to prevent crime

on their own.

Community should be able to assist the

police in ensuring safer living conditions.