Perception of police department shifting from ‘police force’ to ‘police service’: DG&IGP M.A. Saleem

Karnataka’s 43rd State Police Chief M.A. Saleem on March 4 said the perception of the department is steadily shifting from being a “police force” to a “police service”, with a renewed focus on citizen-friendly policing.

Speaking after receiving honorary club membership during an interaction at the Bangalore Press Club, Mr. Saleem said the State police aim to provide seamless service to the public, beginning at the jurisdictional police station level. “Our goal is to ensure that the police are seen as a friend in need rather than merely an enforcement authority. In many countries, people call the police even before contacting friends or relatives during emergencies, because they know the police will be the first responders. We want to build that level of trust here,” he stated.

Reiterating the department’s reform-oriented vision, Mr. Saleem said the emphasis will remain on service delivery, transparency, technology-driven enforcement and public trust-building.

Increasing public transport

Addressing Bengaluru’s traffic woes, Mr. Saleem noted that road congestion stems largely from inadequate public transport usage and limited road capacity for further expansion.

He pointed out that while public transport usage in Mumbai stands at about 82%, Bengaluru’s usage is around 47%. “Increasing public transport capacity and encouraging its use, while reducing private vehicles on the road, is the way forward,” he said.

He explained that unlike many other metro cities, Bengaluru has a radial road network, forcing vehicles to pass through the Central Business District (CBD) to travel from one end of the city to another. Additionally, high-speed expressways feeding traffic into the city often result in bottlenecks. “These issues are being addressed with technological interventions,” he said, urging citizens to start at least 10 minutes early to reduce stress and road rage, and strictly follow traffic rules.

Tackling corruption and vacancies

On corruption within the force, Mr. Saleem said that every system has both good and bad elements. “Our effort is to identify and punish the bad so that the good are encouraged and supported,” he explained.

Responding to concerns about vacancies, he said around 15% vacancies should not hinder functioning, as technology and surveillance systems have supplemented manpower. Automated, contactless enforcement through CCTV and traffic cameras generates an average of 35,000 to 40,000 challans daily. Existing gaps are also being managed with the deployment of home guards at station levels.

Focus on narcotics and cybercrime

To tackle rising drug-related offences, the State police have formed a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force comprising around 65 selected personnel. The unit will focus on targeting peddlers and suppliers, Mr. Saleem said. At the same time, under the ‘Sanmitra’ initiative, a designated officer at each police station will monitor and rehabilitate drug users, helping them overcome addiction and reintegrate into the mainstream, he added. People should come forward and join hands to tackle this menace effectively, he appealed.