A profile of Junior ranks of Karnataka Police. – A survey of their Attitudes, Behaviour, Mental makeup and Stress levels.

Guidance, Supervision & Initiative

Dr.D.V.GURUPRASAD, IPS,

Addl.Director General of Police

Recruitment & Training

Carlton House, Palace Road

Bangalore.

Ph : 080-22264311

Assistance in the Survey :

Kum.Rovina Bastian, Sri.Ajit Kumar & Sri.Somashekar Hawaldar,

UNICEF Team on GSPP Project, o/o the Addl.DGP, R&T, Bangalore.

Statistical Analysis :

1. Sri.Abhay Prakash Somanal, Prob.PSI [Civil]

2. Sri.Lingaraju H. Prob.PSI[ Civil]

3. Sri.M.P.Honne Gowda, Prob.PSI [Civil]

5. Sri. R.Aravind, Prob. SPl. RSI [KSRP]

6. Sri.Manjunath S.Anaji, Prob. Spl.RSI [KSRP]

7. Sri.H.Gurunath, Prob. Spl. RSI [KSRP]

8. Sri.M.A.Sharath, Prob. Spl.RSI [KSRP]

Analysis of results :

Smt.Siri Gowri, M.Sc., M.Phil [Clinical Psychology]

Asst. Commissioner of Police,

Yalahanka Sub-Division

Bangalore.

Final Analysis, Presentation and Formatting :

Smt.Anusuya Sengupta

University of California, USA

DECEMBER 2008

A profile of Junior ranks of Karnataka Police. – A survey of their Attitudes, Behaviour, Mental makeup and Stress levels.

Executive Summary

From the present survey one can understand that the aspects that are going to be discussed are mostly the indicators to the issues that will require further in-depth exploration in the direction of any reform that is to be implemented.

Police constables, HC’s and ASIs

To begin with, most of the population has joined the department with an intention to mainly, serve society along with the prospect of earning adequate livelihood. Most of them did not join this department as a first choice. Most of them have would have preferred to become teachers than constables. Most of them have not had a role model to have inspired them to join the department. Most of them were unemployed before joining this department.

From the Population taken for survey, most of them have been assigned general duty at police station levels. Majority report 8-16 hours of work in a day. Majority report that three is no leisure. They report that property disputes form the major law and order problem at their stations. They report that they prefer to abide by the direction of the higher authority in order to solve whatever problem that they come across. Most of them report being the satisfied with their present job. But a large portion also says that they are not satisfied.

REASONS FOR SATISFACTION

1. To be able to reach out to public.

2. Regular salary / location of residence near by.

REASONS FOR DISSATISFACTION

1. No Proper rest.

2. Harassment by higher ups.

3. Inadequate leave / disrespect from the public.

4. Lack of adequate remuneration.

Talking about pleasant experience, most of them say that they have not had any such pleasant experience in their career, except their basic training period. They also do not report any unpleasant experiences.

Talking about good features of their work, they say that, discipline, Arogya-bhagya Scheme of health insurance, use of modern gadgetry and weapons. About the worst features at their workplace, most of them have listed out harassment by the higher ups, no duty limitations, no leave, overwork/ inability to attend to family work, political pressure/ interference/inadequate personnel, corruption, reservation in promotion are the worst features.

Talking about family, most of them have housewives as spouses, none of their children are working for the department, and most of them report no problem with regard to family. But some of them do report having problem .Most say that their children are studying well .About leisure time activities, most of them report spending time with families, some report no leisure at all. Some have chosen not to respond. Most of them have friends from both police and others, most report that they prefer others to department as friends. Most feel that police is available to grievances of women and children.

At the police station level they have suggested the following reforms

1. Increase in personnel.

2. Fixation of duty hours.

3. Mandatory shift system..

4. Availability of technology.

5. Increase in salary/allowance.

6. Proper rest and leave / amenities

In the area of recruitment and training, they have suggested the following reforms

1. Insulation from political interference.

2. Anti-naxal training to be mandatory.

3. Less strenuous physical training

4. Upper age limit for recruitment to be the same for all categories-SC/ST/OBC/GM

Talking about awareness to judicial judgments, it is found to be low. Towards privatization, they are against any privatization, but prefer partial privatization and feel training in one area that could be privatized.

About police/public relationship, most feel it can be improved by responding adequately and timely to grievances, by being honest, befriending the public, by controlling negative media projection, wiping out monthly, weekly collection of money, reducing political interference.

Women police constables and head constables

Most of the women constables report that they have joined the department to be able to deliver social justice, and livelihood. Majority of them say that joining the department was their “first Preference”, about alternative careers they have chosen teaching and report that there was no inspirational role model to them joining the department. Most of them were not working before joining the department most of them are constables and have been given general duty in the station. Most of them have been doing 8-12 hours of work in a day. Most of them say that there is no leisure available to them.

About problem solving, most WPC’s and HC’s feel that theft in a major problem and that they tackle most problems based on the advice of the higher officers.

JOB SATISFACTION

Most of them say that they have had no pleasant experience in the department expect for training. Most of them say that the most unpleasant experience is harassment by higher officers. They have also reported that pregnancy, election duty, illness, night duty have been unpleasant as well.

About good features in the department they have reported as follows:

1. Responding immediately to the problem.

2. Security to public property.

3. Discipline

4. Maintenance of law and order

WORST FEATURES HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS

1. No response / corruption.

2. Harassment.

3. Political interference / bad behavior by police.

4. British system of administration

ABOUT FAMILY PROFILE

Most of their spouses are in a private job, none of their children are working for the department. Aabout family life they report that they have no time to attend to their parents, feel that police life itself in a punishment. Working post delivery and pregnancy is a big problem and that they have no proper rest. Most say that their children are studying well.

Leisure times activities mainly include spending time with family .Most of their friends are from within the department. They also feel that police is accessible to problems of women and children.

REFORMS

In the station Include,

1. Increase in salary.

2.Fixation of duty hours.

3.Rest room for women in police station.

TRAINING / RECRUITMENT

1. Preference to in-service candidates

2. Increase the age limit for PSI recruitment irrespective of caste.

3. Priority to be given to women.

Most of them report awareness to judicial decisions. About privatization, they feel service of warrant/summons/driving, training and computer operations can be privatized. Most of them have opined that police public relationship can be improved by responding properly to public, fighting corruption and discrimination. They have felt that media has been too critical of police.

SUB-INSPECTORS AND CIRCLE INSPECTORS

Most of them have come in to render social service and for livelihood. Most of them have chosen to join the department as their first preference and have had no inspiration from any family member and most report that there is no leisure at all in the course of work.

In this sample group it is noticed that most of them have not responded to the questions. They have chosen to respond only to a few questions.

A profile of Junior ranks of Karnataka Police. – A survey of their Attitudes, Behaviour, Mental makeup and Stress levels.

Tools, Procedure & Responses

Aim : The present survey was conducted as a pilot study to be able to understand the possibilities of issues and areas to be looked into, in order to be able to conduct a detailed study in the future.

Subjects and procedure : The subjects constituted of mainly three groups, first group consisted of a randomly selected group of 286 police constables, head constables and assistant sub-inspectors. the second group consisted of 25 randomly selected circle inspectors and sub-inspectors .the third group consisted of 30 women constables and women head constables.The age range of the selected population was between 18-58 yrs.

The subjects were given the questionnaire as routine work.
Nothing was told to them regarding the purpose of the study. Their identities were not revealed in order to maintain anonymity.

Tools used : The questionnaire consisted of 22 questions based mainly on self report. The areas the questionnaire tried to explore consisted of motivation ,which included role models, job preference, jobs held, the other areas included problem solving, family profile, rest and leisure time activities, attitude towards women and children, reforms and awareness of judicial decisions, family burden and police public relationship.

Analysis of data : The available data was divided on the basis of different police ranges. The five police ranges are based on geographical location .The range‘s as divided included central range, western range, southern range, eastern range and northern range. This was done in order to be able to look at area specific issues and socio-cultural aspects.

Each question related to a specific area was rated on a scale of 0-4.apart from rating the responses, the responses which were found to have relevance to a better understanding of the current status of the police men were noted down separately .some of the responses to ascertain question was analyzed qualitatively using the ranking method.

In order to understand the concept of role model the first two questions of the questionnaire were used. The questions were as follows.

1. Why did u join the department? Was this your first choice for an employment? If you didn’t get into police, what other job would you take up?
2. Is anyone from your family who is or was in the department an inspiration to your joining the department?

1. Why did you join the department? Was this your first choice for an employment? if you didn’t get into police ,what other job would you take up?

Why did you join the Police department?

		others	livelihood	Social service + livelihood	Social service
		0	01	02	03
		Central range
1	Bangalore(north)	07	05	08	20
2	Bangalore(west)	03	06	12	18
	Total	10	12	20	28
		Southern range
1	Mysore	02	02	12	10
2	Hassan	03	03	03	04
3	Kodagu	04	05	09	08
	Total	09	10	24	22
		Western range
1	Karwar	01	02	05	03
2	Udupi	02	03	01	07
3	Chickmaglur	00	02	06	05
	Total	03	07	12	15
		Eastern range
1	Davangere	03	02	02	06
2	Chitradurga	01	03	04	05
	Total	04	05	06	11
		Northern range
1	Hubli- Dharwad	03	02	08	13
2	Belgaum	04	01	04	04
3	Dharwad	02	00	04	07
4	Gadag	01	03	04	05
5	Bagalkot	02	03	03	05
	Total	12	09	23	34

Was this your first choice for employment?

	Central range
		No first preference	First preference	No response
		0	1
1	Bangalore(North)	13	21	05
2	Bangalore(West)	08	27	04
	Total	21	48	09
	Southern range
1	Mysore	04	22	-
2	Hassan	02	09	04
3	Kodagu	02	20	04
	Total	08	51	08
	Western range
1	Karwar	01	12	-
2	Udupi	01	11	01
3	Chickmaglur	02	10	01
	Total	04	33	02
	Eastern range
1	Davangere	02	11	-
2	Chitradurga	03	09	-
	Total	05	20	-
	Northern range
1	Hubli-Dharwad	04	20	02
2	Belgaum	02	11	-
3	Dharwad	03	10	-
4	Gadag	02	11	-
5	Bagalkot	04	09	-
	Total	15	61	02

If you did not get into police, what other job would you take up?

	Job profile	ranking
1	Teacher/ lecturer	57
2	Any job	25
3	Agriculture	19
4	Military	09
5	Social service	07
6	Private job	04
7	Banking/clerk/business	02
8	Self employment	01

Is anyone from your family who is or was in the department an inspiration to your joining the department?

		No inspiration	Remote role model	Definite role model
		0	01	02
		Central range
1	Bangalore(north)	30	00	06
2	Bangalore(west)	33	00	03
	Total	63	00	09
		Southern range
1	Mysore	21	00	03
2	Hassan	09	00	04
3	Kodagu	22	02	02
	Total	52	02	09
		Western range
1	Karwar	12	00	01
2	Udupi	11	01	01
3	Chickmaglur	10	02	01
	Total	33	03	03
		Eastern range
1	Davangere	09	03	01
2	Chitradurga	11	00	02
	Total
		Northern range
1	Hubli- Dharwad	25	00	01
2	Belgaum	09	01	03
3	Dharwad	11	01	01
4	Gadag	12	00	01
5	Bagalkot	11	01	01
	Total	68	03	07

When we look at the results we find that most of them have come in with a social service as a basic motivating factor, second motivating factor has been the livelihood which has brought them to the department. Coming to job preferences most of them have opined that this was their first preference. About an alternative job most preferred to have become teachers, on the second position are people who would not mind joining any job. Agriculture stands as the third preference and most of them did not have any inspiration which led them to join this job.

Job preference:

3. Were you working before joining this job?

		Not working	Working
		0	1
Central range
1	Bangalore(North)	20	16
2	Bangalore(West)	21	15
	Total	41	31
	Southern range
1	Mysore	14	14
2	Hassan	07	06
3	Kodagu	18	02
	Total	39	22
	Western range
1	Karwar	11	02
2	Udupi	08	05
3	Chickmaglur	03	07
	Total	22	14
	Eastern range
1	Davangere	08	05
2	Chitradurga	10	03
	Total	18	08
	Northern range
1	Hubli-Dharwad	23	03
2	Belgaum	04	09
3	Dharwad	10	03
4	Gadag	11	02
5	Bagalkot	10	03
	Total	58	20

(Jobs held) Duties performed in the department:

4. What are the different positions held by you in the police department so far?

Rank	Number of persons
Police constables	210
Head constable	63
Assistant sub inspectors	13

5. What is the duty assigned to you at present in the department?

Duty assigned	Number of persons
General duty	170
Writer	30
Enquiry	20
Computer operator	14
Crime section	11
Court duty	10
Traffic	06
SHO wireless	05
Warrant duty	04
Bandobast and escort duty	01

When we look at their job preferences, most of them were unemployed when they joined the department. most of them were constables and were assigned to general duty in the police station routine

Rest:

6. How many hours of duty you do in 24 hours? In a month how many times do you go on leave? How many days do you rest?

How many hours of duty you do in 24 hours?

Number of hours	Number of persons
8-12	112
13-16	101
17-24	65
No response	8

In a month how many times do you go on leave? How many days do you rest?

		No leisure	Some leisure	Leisure/rest/leave
		0	01	02
		Central range
1	Bangalore(north)	27	06	00
2	Bangalore(west)	30	06	00
	Total	57	12	00
		Southern range
1	Mysore	07	14	01
2	Hassan	06	07	00
3	Kodagu	08	14	04
	Total	21	35	05
		Western range
1	Karwar	05	02	06
2	Udupi	07	06	00
3	Chickmaglur	08	01	04
	Total	20	09	10
		Eastern range
1	Davangere	01	08	00
2	Chitradurga	02	11	00
	Total	03	19	00
		Northern range
1	Hubli- Dharwad	10	01	14
2	Belgaum	07	06	00
3	Dharwad	03	04	00
4	Gadag	06	05	00
5	Bagalkot	07	04	00
	Total	33	20	14

Looking at hours of rest (112)most of them have reported 8-12 hours of duty.101 persons have said that they work for 13-16 hours a day.65 persons have reported 17-24 hours of work. This could be indicating that a section of constabulary is being over worked. Coming to leave and rest majority have reported that they do not get adequate leisure. While it is noted that people in the southern range and eastern range have reported availability of some leisure.

Problem solving

7. What do you think is the major law and order problem that you come across in your respective police station? How do you and your colleagues tackle such law and order problems at your respective police station?

What do you think is the major law and order problem that you come across in your respective police station?

Nature of the Law and order problem	Number of persons	Ranking
Property disputes	44	1
Communal clashes	35	2
theft	32	3
Accidents	22	4
Petty quarrels	18	5
Family disputes	13	6
Bandoobast	08	7
Traffic	07	8

How do you and your colleagues tackle such law and order problem at your respective station?

	Number of persons	Ranking
By acting in accordance with the directions of the higher authorities.	85	1
By discussion with colleagues and thereby arriving at conclusions.	37	2
By taking immediate and appropriate action	29	3
By arriving at an understanding with the public.	15	4
No response	14	5
By producing the culprits before the court	08	6
By patrolling	07	7

Problem solving : most constabulary feel that property disputes, communal clashes, theft accidents and petty quarrels are the most difficult to solve.When it comes to solving them they depend on the direction of the higher authorities, they also believe that timely and immediate action can solve any problem

Job satisfaction:

8. Are you satisfied with your present job? If yes then state reasons, if no then state reasons?

9. Which is your most pleasant experience in the police department till now? Describe.

10. Which is the most difficult/unpleasant situation that you have faced in the department till now? Describe?

17 .what do you think are the better and worse features of the present police system?

8. Are you satisfied with your present job?

Response	score	ranking
Yes	121	1
No	74	2
Average	59	3
Better not to say	32	4

Why are you satisfied?

Response	Number of persons	Ranking
It helps to reach out to people.	89	1
Regular salary/ location of residence near by	06	2
Respect from society/sense of discipline	05	3
Job security	02	4

Why are you dissatisfied?

Response	Number of persons	Ranking
No proper rest	21	1
Harassment by higher officers	16	2
No sufficient leave/no respect from the public.	08	3
Lack of basic amenities/no remuneration appropriate to hours of work.	06	4
Mental harassment by higher authorities/no time to attend to family.	04	5

9. Which is your most pleasant experience in the police department till now? Describe.

Response	Number of persons	Ranking
Not had such an experience.	90	1
Training	86	2
When thieves were caught	18	3
When responded timely to public	16	4
When appreciated by public/police sports	14	5
Enquiry	09	6
Bandobast	07	7
Appreciated by higher officers	04	8

10. Which is the most difficult/unpleasant situation that you have faced in the department till now? Describe?

Response	Number of persons	Ranking
No such experience so far	65	1
Training	27	2
Communal disturbances	26	3
VIP bandobast	20	4
Harassment by higher authorities	19	5
No proper leave facilities	15	6
Round the clock duty/when on duty in some other district	09	7

17 .what do you think are the better and worse features of the present police system?

Better features:

Response	Number of persons	Ranking
Discipline in the department	37	1
Provision of ration card and Arogya Bhagya scheme	28	2
Helps maintain law and order/modern weapons and instruments	16	3
Protection of public property	10	4
Training	07	5

Worst features of the department:

Response	Number of persons	Ranking
Harassment by higher ups	38	1
No proper leave/no time limits for duty.	20	2
Tiring work/inability to attend to family work	14	3
Political pressure/interference	19	4
Less number of personnel	11	5
corruption	10	5
Reservation in promotion	08	6
Higher officers listening to gossip	06	7

Job satisfaction:

121 persons have said that they are satisfied with their job .74 have said that they are not satisfied. While 32 people have resorted to say that they better not say anything. About being satisfied 89 people have said that they are able to reach out to public. Others have said that they are satisfied as they get regular salary; it gets them the respect that they deserve. They say that they are dissatisfied because of improper rest, harassment by higher authorities and improper leave and tiring work and inability to attend to family work.

Family profile:

11. What is your spouse doing? What are your children doing? Are your children working for the police department?

12. Do you face problem vis-à-vis family owing to your present duty assignment?

13. Is your family life happy? Are your children studying well?

11. What is your spouse doing?

Profile	Number of persons	ranking
Housewife	208	1
I am not married	54	2
working	13	3
No response	08	4

What are your children doing? Are your children working for the police department?

		Not working	Working
		0	1
Central range
1	Bangalore(North)	30	00
2	Bangalore(West)	30	00
	Total	60	00
	Southern range
1	Mysore	25	00
2	Hassan	09	00
3	Kodagu	22	00
	Total	56	00
	Western range
1	Karwar	09	00
2	Udupi	10	00
3	Chickmaglur	07	00
	Total	26	00
	Eastern range
1	Davangere	10	00
2