SERVICES RENDERED
 

 Broadly speaking:

  • Prevention and detection of crime,

  • maintenance of public order,

  • collection of intelligence affecting crime and public peace,

  • management of traffic and

  •  special protective arrangements for certain individuals and installations

  CLIENTS / BENEFICIARIES

  • People – in their individual capacity; and

  • Society – representing collective interest of the people.

   CLIENT’S RIGHTS

Whereas the responsibility of prevention and detection of crime on police directly affects individual rights, the other tasks performed by police primarily concern society as a whole.  While societal rights are generally secure and rarely transgressed, individual’s rights require special attention.  These can be defined as:

  • Rights of complainants or victims of crimes;  and

  • Constitutional and legal rights/protections available to people including persons accused of commission of offences.

A brief overview of the individual’s rights is given hereinafter:

RIGHTS OF VICTIMS / COMPLAINANTS OF CRIMES

Whenever any cognizable offence (where a police officer can arrest the offender without warrant) is committed,

  • The aggrieved person or any other person can file an FIR orally or in writing with the Officer-in-charge of a police station.

  • In case of refusal to register a cognizable offence, the complainant can send his complaint by post to the Superintendent of Police who can start the process of investigation.

  • A copy of the FIR is given free of cost to the informant.

  • After registration of FIR, investigation is taken up.

  • Thereafter findings are sent to the Court under section 173 Cr.PC and complainant is duly informed.

  • When adequate evidence comes on record, the case is sent for trial.

  • When evidence is inadequate, the case is sent as untraced.

  • When it is found that no offence was committed, the case is sent for cancellation.

  • Where a case is sent as untraced or cancelled, the informant can represent his case before the Court, who hears the person before accepting the police report.

  • Section 167(1) Cr.PC prescribes that every investigation shall be completed without unnecessary delay though no time limit is fixed for completion of investigation.

  • A complainant or a victim, in case of a grievance that investigation has not been proper or speedy, can represent to the superior officers who can issue appropriate directions including further investigation.

  • If a person is unable to go to a police station to lodge his complaint, he can send it by post.

  • People can also inform about commission of a cognizable offence or its likelihood to the Police Control Room at telephone number 100, a round the clock toll free number.  Systems exist to immediately depute local police officers and PCR vehicles to the spot to take appropriate action.

If a complaint discloses commission of a non-cognizable offence, police cannot suo-moto proceed with investigation and only a competent Court can authorize an investigation.