Parliamentary Panel has recently revealed that the Delhi Police has 13,525 vacant positions, which account for around 14% of its total strength. This startling revelation has once again put the spotlight on the issue of the shortage of police personnel in the country, particularly in the national capital.
The Parliamentary Panel on Home Affairs, headed by senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, made this revelation during a meeting with representatives from the Delhi Police. The panel had summoned the Delhi Police officials to discuss the issues related to law and order in the city, particularly in the wake of the recent spate of crimes against women.
The Delhi Police officials informed the panel that there are currently 92,000 personnel in the force, out of which 13,525 positions are vacant. This means that the force is operating with just 85,475 personnel, which is well below its sanctioned strength of 1,07,662.
The shortage of police personnel has been a longstanding issue in the country. According to an estimate by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD), India needs at least 2.7 million police personnel to meet the United Nations’ standard of 222 police personnel per 100,000 population. However, India currently has only 1.3 million police personnel, which is less than half of the required number.
The shortage of police personnel has a direct impact on the ability of the police force to maintain law and order in the country. Police personnel are responsible for a variety of tasks, including maintaining peace and order, preventing crime, investigating crimes, and providing security to citizens. However, with a shortage of personnel, the police force is unable to effectively fulfill these duties.
In the case of Delhi, the shortage of police personnel has been particularly acute. The city has witnessed a spike in crime in recent years, particularly against women. In 2020 alone, there were over 2,000 cases of rape reported in the city, which is an alarming number by any standards.
The shortage of police personnel in Delhi has been exacerbated by several factors. One of the main reasons is the failure of the government to fill vacant positions in a timely manner. Although there are regular recruitments, the pace has been slow, and there are often delays in the selection process. This has led to a situation where there are several vacant positions in the force, which are yet to be filled.
Another factor contributing to the shortage of police personnel is the high attrition rate in the force. The police force is a tough job, and many personnel leave the force due to various reasons such as long working hours, low salaries, and lack of job satisfaction. This leads to a situation where the force is unable to retain its personnel, and there are large numbers of vacancies that need to be filled.
The Parliamentary Panel on Home Affairs has called for urgent measures to address the shortage of police personnel in Delhi. The panel has recommended that the government speed up the recruitment process to fill the vacant positions in the force. It has also suggested that the government provide better salaries and working conditions to retain the existing personnel.
The panel has also recommended that the government explore the possibility of outsourcing some of the non-core functions of the police force, such as traffic management and security at public events. This would free up the existing personnel to focus on core policing duties, such as maintaining law and order and preventing crime.
In conclusion, the shortage of police personnel in Delhi is a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently. The Parliamentary Panel’s revelation that the Delhi Police has 13,525 vacant positions is a wake-up call for the government to take proactive measures to recruit more personnel and retain the existing ones. The police force is the backbone of law and order in any country, and it is essential that the government ensures that it has adequate personnel to fulfill its responsibilities. Only then can we hope to create a safe and secure environment for our citizens.