Women in policing: plugging the gaps

Under a barrage of criticism and suggestions for police reform, the government has announced an increase in the presence of women constables and officers in each police station in Delhi. The aim is to have one-third women police personnel present at police stations so that complainants, especially women, girls and children find the police more approachable.

As a step towards urgent positive reform, this is heartening, though as a first step alone. Much more needs to be done in an institutionalised, structured and holistic manner to make such reform meaningful.

Changing attitudes:

Consider this. A woman walks in to register sexual molestation. First, she encounters the duty officer at the front desk. She must first get past him (it is usually a man) to record her statement. Two things are likely to happen by now according to past and current trends - first, he has decided this is "ladies complaint/ladies problem" and second, he thinks, "She probably asked for it."

Much of the police force, especially the constabulary, tends to have set attitudes on what a woman's role is and should be and what makes a woman 'decent'. A woman's role is to take care of the house, bear children and serve the family (however repressive or abusive it may be). If her husband strays, then she is probably not fulfilling his 'needs', and must do so immediately, unquestioningly.

For her to be understood as 'decent' she should fulfil her defined role without resistance or independent thought; she should dress conservatively and talk and behave with utmost restraint and respect. Any deviation from this narrow, rigid line holds the woman responsible for violence she might experience. If she is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, then 'She must have asked for it.'

Speaking with an IPS officer recently, I learnt that whenever her constables are confronted with a case of sexual violence, they begin their reporting with "Madam, iska to character hi kharaab hai" (Madam, this woman's character is in question). Policemen and policewomen use this opening statement equally.

The bias therefore begins at the very first step of what should be an independent, impartial inquiry towards deliverance of justice. Recruits come into a rigid sub-culture of insensitivity and conventional norms.

Changes in training for an urban context:

Men and women who join the police constabulary are usually drawn from rural and semi-rural regions around bigger cities. They have little or no concept of an urban woman. It is not unusual to see policemen staring, sniggering and passing lewd comments amongst themselves at a smartly dressed woman in urban clothing. This leaves women more vulnerable on the street, because in their attitude the police do not distinguish themselves from others who threaten a woman's security and dignity.

Changes in training are essential. This is a crucial stage to emphasise fundamental doctrines - that all complainants - irrespective of dress, language, customs, strata and gender - are citizens first, citizens who have a right to protection and justice equally. Young recruits have to be sensitised and taught to present themselves respectfully to all who approach them.

It will take an intense and intelligent syllabus to cut through years of indoctrination of gender biases, but it can be done. Psychological profiling and counselling would be a part of such training, as well as hard physical discipline.

Additionally, each recruit would have to be monitored - firstly to note the progress he or she is making, and secondly to identify what his or her core strengths are. Importantly, such appraisal must be recorded so that it may be referred to in the future.

Changing responsibilities:

Women in the police are typically assigned soft jobs - taking calls and escorting the kin of VIPs when required. Rarely do women get more responsibility.

Now, with the announcement of more women in police stations, it would help to assign women constables a greater role and responsibility, as duty officers (DOs), for instance. As DOs, they would be the first face of the police for a complainant. It would immediately make the police more approachable especially for women, children and families who seek help.

Additionally, Duty Officers get good exposure. As the first desk of help, they would hear and handle all complaints, and the reporting of all kinds of crime. This is first-hand revelation that would be extremely useful for policewomen who often are caught otherwise in very limited roles with limited exposure.

A second important consideration is to make both policemen and women part of teams with joint tasks. Policewomen, at least two in a team, should be part of patrolling at all times, along with their male counterparts.

Similarly, policemen should be part of the desk that records crime against women. A woman's complaint should not be regarded solely as a 'ladies problem', to be then dealt with only by policewomen. A team of both men and women should handle such complaints. This would help sensitise the men to women's problems; simultaneously, it would enhance perspectives over a case, since the team would put across more than one viewpoint.

Changing rooms:

The least for now (and certainly a good starting point), police stations need to have changing rooms for women personnel and visitors. Makeshift arrangements usually draw ridicule and taunts from already largely insensitive male colleagues, and increases the chances of harassment within the police itself. Currently, many stations do not have even a basic provision for separate washrooms. This is an administrative detail that needs immediate attention.

The swift provision of a clean, private and functional space for women's hygiene will send an important message to all police personnel - that the State considers its female task force important, and cares for their needs and dignity. Hopefully, this message will find expression even beyond the walls of the station itself.