Public Co-Operation with the Police in South India
| Published date | 01 January 1937 |
| Date | 01 January 1937 |
| Author | D. Crossley |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X3701000109 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
Public
Co-operation
with
the
Police
in
South
India
By D. CROSSLEY
District
Superintendent
of Police,
South
India
DURIN
G the last three years there has been an astonishing
development in the matter of public co-operation with
the police in the Madras Presidency, entailing an almost
revolutionary change in police work. Formerly the attitude
of the public towards the police of South India was one of
derision, apathy, and even hostility. One of the greatest
difficulties the police had to contend with was lack of co-
operation on the part of the general public.
In
many respects
there were strong local feelings,
but
any suggestion of a public
spirit in putting down abuses or combining for the common
welfare was conspicuous by its absence.
The
people considered
that the police were paid to do their job, and it was for them
to do it.
The
police were never looked on as friends and the
public had a rooted objection to having any dealings with
them on account of their great fear of being dragged to courts
to give evidence, etc. It was commonly remarked that police
work was none of their business.
They
entirely failed to
realize the cordial co-operation necessary, especially in a
country of great distances and indifferent facilities for com-
munication.
The
police were well aware that the confidence
of the public in them was essential,
but
the problem was how
to get the public to take the police into confidence, and regard
it as their duty to help.
There
was no suggestion of that
good-humoured co-operation with the police which is prover-
bial in England. While the
epithet"
good-humoured" would
be out of place when alluding to the public attitude here,
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