Today's Witness Tuesday, 30 April 2024, 05:31 AM, ( Updated at 11:30 AM Daily)
BUREAURCRACY
Friday, 12 April, 2024 11:27:PM
The current political scenario in Delhi has triggered a political storm, with various pressure groups and political parties taking advantage of the situation to pressure the ruling government. In such a situation, Law and Order become paramount, and it is important to put politics aside to ensure stability. However, Delhi's Law and Order Dynamics face a mixed threat profile, where a combination of political and pressure groups has tested the stability of Delhi's Law and Order from time to time.
The last major destabilization in Delhi's law and order was during the 2021 Farmers protests. However, Delhi's Law and Order profile is now gradually experiencing Politco-communal tensions, which were extinguished by the timely intervention of Delhi Police. With the evolving threat matrix, Delhi Police need to delve deeper into smart and professional policing to make more informed decisions on the ground.
Every young DCP in the district has a bravado-like approach, employing deterrence in crowd and riot management. However, this approach is now considered a last resort measure and not a preferable standard approach, as it may sometimes prove counter-productive. The College of Policing in the United Kingdom suggests that Active listening, self-regulation, verbal and non-verbal communication, and situational awareness are the most effective conflict management skills that will be instrumental in deescalating tensions. This approach could be tailored to the Indian policing landscape as well under the canvas of smart and professional policing because smart and professional policing goes beyond technology and data. The behavioral aspect of crowd and riot management is one of the most effective ways, however, this has often been overlooked by young DCPs, despite the government's stress to depart from "Danda policing."
Delhi Police have a long history of manhandling crowds or riot situations, which often leads to the escalation of the scenario. The recent case of Additional DCP manhandling a cameraman paints a worrisome picture of Delhi Police's behavioural aspect in the crowd and riot management. On the other hand, DCP Central M Harsh Vardhan's case presents a much-needed outlook on policing, and therefore, it deserves to be discussed. A closer look at Vardhan's recent crowd and situation management under the overhang of Delhi's turning into a hot political bed suggests that less Danda and more communication were used to de-escalate the situation at important places in Central Delhi. "Harsh Vardhan approached the situation with utmost soft composure and with due vigilance, a senior IPS officer said.
Vardhan's approach of "enhanced communication" acts as soft deterrence, which not only helps control the situation more effectively but also quickly de-escalates it without attracting the risk of escalation or spiraling out, often seen in bravado policing. This enhanced communication works on establishing effective communication on the ground with strong situational awareness, active listening, and negotiation skills without involving much scope of coercion.
However, political protests are sometimes difficult and rigid, and enhanced communication helps to buy time and keep the tempo of the crowd intact for some time, which helps the force to de-escalate the situation on time. If this practice of "enhanced communication" gets imbibed by the force at large, then it will help Delhi Police not only to quietly disperse the small crowds and flaring protests but also to avoid attracting harsh criticism and issues of prolonged security headaches, which are often seen when the situation escalates due to force's manhandling or bravado approach.
Vardhan's case serves as a good reference point to many who believe that hard deterrence or bravado policing is the only way to control the crowd and a riot situation. Enhanced communication and refining behavioural aspects are fundamental in effective and professional policing, which has become necessary in tackling upcoming policing challenges. Therefore, smart policing and professional policing go beyond tech and data and also include a "behavioural aspect." The sooner the force understands this, the closer it will make itself to the community and build strong trust in the public.