DHAKA, Jan 16, 2025 (BSS) – The Police Reform Commission (PRC) in its report has placed a set of proposals to bridge the gap between police and the people and thus regain the public trust in the law enforcement agency. 

The proposals include forming citizen safety committee at every police station areas alongside holding regular town hall meetings with the commoners, make effective the community policing system and adopting constructive lessons in the educational institutions to make people aware.   
 
“Regular town hall meetings may be organized to rebuild trust between the public and the police and foster mutual understanding.

 In the local level, there will be representation of citizens at various levels, from local public representatives, local administration representatives to school and college level,” said the PRC report.

PRC Chairman and former home secretary Safar Raz Hossain yesterday submitted the report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office here.

The commission also suggested forming Citizen Safety Committee in the area (for every police station) to review and improve the law and order situation.

To increase citizen awareness, the PRC said that the constructive lessons or practices can be included in educational institutions to create awareness among citizens.
 
“For this purpose, it is important to include policing and law-related subjects in the curriculum at school level.

 For example, by playing a role like 'Be a policeman for a day', a positive view of the work of the police will be created among the students,” it said.

The police should have a separate PR (public relations) strategy, so that the public's contact with the police is further strengthened. 

“For example, various police hotlines can be promoted through the media. The services that the police have, especially for women, need to be further promoted,” it said.

The commission also proposed to strengthen and expand the existing community policing system, which will increase the accountability of the police and ensure public involvement in police activities.

The service-oriented activities of the police currently underway need to be improved considerably and strong efforts and publicity are needed for more sincere and dedicated public-friendly policing, it said.