Tainted reputation difficult to overcome - NPC Chairman

by Manjula Fernando

Prof. Siri Hettige

Prof. Siri Hettige, Chairman of the National Police Commission (NPC) and a Professor of Sociology, compared the attempt to overhaul an institution, 'similar to rehabilitating an alcoholic.'

In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Prof. Hettige, who halted his career as an academic to give leadership to the NPC admitted that even with sweeping reforms, winning back public trust would not be easy for the police force.

While refusing to comment on individual cases, Prof. Hettige said, lasting change, be it on a person or an institution, is a slow process.

At present, the NPC was investigating the 750 public complaints, he said, adding that a series of joint action-plans are to be introduced, to address outstanding issues including the elimination of corruption and impunity.

Excerpts:

Q: There is a perception that the Independent National Police Commission has failed to meet public expectations?

A: The first Police Commission was appointed under the 17th Amendment. It did not last long. Then came the 18th Amendment and the Police Commission was relegated to handling mere public complaints. Only a few months ago, the new Independent Police Commission was set up.

It takes time to study the situation and to develop plans and strategies. We are not trying to find excuses but we need to be realistic.

We have been entrusted with many responsibilities under the 19th Amendment. There is a long list of functions including investigating public complaints, transfers, appointments and promotions. To discharge these functions, we need to formulate rules and regulations. We are trying to kick start something that did not exist before. The whole system needs to be planned from scratch. It takes time.

Q: But this was the public expectation for long. Why is it that citizens have to patiently wait for processes to complete and justice to be delivered?

A: We are trying to have a holistic, long- term approach. The main function of the police is to enforce the law and maintain order in the country. But it is not that simple in functionality.

There is a plethora of things the police should do to maintain law and order. There are so many other institutions that impinge on these areas. Over 50 public institutions are connected to the maintenance of law and order.

If you take neighbourhood issues, the local authority, child protection agencies, Excise Department, environmental institutions, all have important roles to play. There is no co-ordinated approach at the moment and this is delaying progress.

The NPC will develop a whole range of action plans, dealing with crime prevention, child protection, drug and alcoholism and so on, to be implemented jointly with other institutions. It will set in motion a series of processes aimed at maintaining peace.

Q: The public expectations from the National Police Commission are high. The Unity Government was elected to introduce drastic changes to the systems of governance, including ending impunity, corruption and politicization of the police service.

A: The problem is that there has not been an effective oversight body for a long time.

The public service of this country came directly under political control as there was no independent Public Service Commission. Under the 19th Amendment, this huge flaw was rectified and now there is an Independent Public Service Commission. But can we still say the public service is independent? The point is that the PSC became independent recently and we cannot turn around the public service over night. It takes time to deliver the results of this ongoing overhaul.

Q: The Minister of Law and Order has promised zero political interference. Doesn't this provide a window of opportunity to depoliticise the Police Department and clear the stables?

A: That is true. It is free of political pressure now. There is no political interference at all. But it is an organization that has existed in this country for 150 years with a history of its own. The current conditions alone cannot complete the conversion. It takes effort and programs.

Before the war broke out, the police force was a mere 25,000. Today, it has 84,000 personnel. Like any other public institution, it came under direct political influence under the previous regime. This was the same for even banks and universities. Even the appointments of university vice chancellors were a political decision, not an academic one.

Q: There is a Unity Government in office now which upholds good governance. Yet, there are incidents like attack on HNDA students and the Embilipitiya incident where police is faulted for alleged excesses?

A: The change takes time. Changing people's attitudes is a slow process as well as changing institutions.

It cannot happen overnight. It would be similar to rehabilitating an alcoholic. It involves psychotherapy as well as medication.

An institution that has gone through a certain process of change over 30 years cannot be reversed quickly. It will not take another 30 years, but it will take some time.

Q: Have you set in motion the process of institutional restructuring?

A: We have to reverse certain trends. It takes time, but it will certainly happen. We have to set long- term goals. We have to look at the Police Department from an organizational perspective.

Q: Have you identified and listed out the existing shortcomings?

A: We are doing that. That is one of the major activities. We are going to facilitate things in the coming months.

Having numbers may not be adequate. You must have resources, training, equipment and systems. Police officers are also human beings. We are discussing their working conditions, welfare, health issues, salaries and promotions. Seven persons have been tasked to address these issues.

We have to get ourselves organized and approach this systematically.

Q: Do you have any specific strategies to win public trust?

A: If what I have just mentioned to you can be achieved in a reasonable period of time, there will be a significant change in public perceptions. We had a war for 30 years. We would have very much liked if the war ended in one year. No one wants to be in a messy situation for a long time. Here also, the same rule applies. We would like to complete the process faster, if possible.

Q: Isn't the criteria for recruitment, specially to lower ranks, a problem when seeking to professionalize the police force?

A: If I comment as a professor of sociology, I am fortunate that we have established an Independent National Police Commission. Whenever a new idea is put forward, we take it seriously. All these things are possible now.

We are in consultation with everyone, within and outside. We have been discussing all these concerns for a long time, but today, we are planning to act on those, in real terms.

I think we should be optimistic and have a positive attitude. You can always dismiss things but what we are trying to do is to bring about that change we all desire.

Q: Is the NPC independent in a real way to introduce the changes you speak of?

A: We are not under pressure from anybody anymore. We don't have that problem at anymore. We are totally independent.

If the question is whether we have everything that we require, then the answer is - No. In some areas, we have to build from scratch. We have to mobilize ideas, people and resources simultaneously. We have generated ideas but we have to mobilize people and resources. That is why people have been complaining of slow progress. But once the system is in place, things will move faster.

We should have to have an open mind if we need to bring about change.

Q: Despite all the assurances, when incidents like attacks on students or Embilipitiya happens, the government tends to shield the police from public criticism and offer excuses? Is this a fair practice?

A: It depends on the checks and balances. When you have so many stake holders, is it not easy to hide it under the carpet. For instance, corruption is rampant when there are no checks and balances. Today, people are vigilant. Then, there is the media and the Independent Police Commission. All of them will play a role. That makes cover- ups difficult.